UNESCO marks International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination

“Everyone has a role to play in ending racial discrimination, and it is only through constant vigilance that we can hope to achieve its demise,” stressed Irina Bokova, Director-General of UNESCO, in her message for International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination, calling on decision-makers and “citizens everywhere” to join in UNESCO’s endeavours “to make this a more racially tolerant world”.

In 2010, the Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination (21 March) takes place in the broader context of the United Nations International Year for the Rapprochement of Cultures, Ms Bokova also noted in her message. “As lead agency for the Year, UNESCO is seeking to bring new impetus to the search for dialogue, tolerance and peace in our rapidly changing times,” she said.

On 19 March, UNESCO and the French Federation of UNESCO Clubs will invite young people to discuss the issue of racism and discrimination at a symposium at UNESCO Headquarters in Paris. The event’s two sessions will be led by the French associationsAssociation Service Social Familial Migrants (ASSFAM) and Pédagodroit.Participants will work towards a common understanding of concepts, behaviours and existing legal frameworks and discuss different means to combat racism and discrimination.

The opening of the photo exhibition “Avec ELLE, avec LUI” (“With her, with him”) will follow the debate. Produced by students and teachers from the Rosa Luxemburg School in Aubervilliers (France), the show is an appeal for mutual respect and tolerance, illustrating in 30 images the diversity of relationships between people from different backgrounds, beyond stereotypes and prejudices.

In addition, also on 19 March, UNESCO and the Spanish soccer team F.C. Barcelona will announce the start of a joint anti-racism campaign. It will kick off at F.C. Barcelona’s match against Osasuna on 24 March at Barcelona's Camp Nou Stadium with messages rejecting racism. A number of activities will follow throughout the year, including a press conference (date to be announced) at which Barcelona players will add their voices to the rejection of racism.

The campaign is a new initiative produced by the partnership between UNESCO and F.C. Barcelona, signed in November 2007.  The previous (2008-2009) project, “Youth Voices Against Racism”, in collaboration with the European Parliament and UNESCO’s European Coalition of Cities against Racism, involved young people aged 15 to 18 in local policy-making and the design of anti-racism activities. Many of the suggestions they made will be put into practice in this new campaign.

International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination commemorates events on 21 March 1960, in Sharpeville, South Africa, when police opened fire and killed young students peacefully demonstrating against the apartheid "pass laws". The United Nations proclaimed the Day in 1966. This year marks the 50th anniversary of the Sharpeville massacre.