International Day for Elimination of Racial Discrimination 2018 observed globally

21 March: International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination

The International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination was observed across the globe on March 21, 2018 with an aim to eliminate all the forms of racial discrimination.

Theme of International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination

The theme of the 2018 International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination was 'Promoting tolerance, inclusion, unity and respect for diversity in the context of combating racial discrimination'.

Everyone is entitled to human rights without discrimination. The rights to equality and non-discrimination are the basis of human rights law.

Article 1 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights states that all humans are born free and equal in dignity and rights, while Article 2 states that everyone is entitled to all the rights and freedoms without distinction of race or any other kind.

How the day was proclaimed?

• On 21 March 1960, police opened fire and killed 69 people at a peaceful demonstration in Sharpeville, South Africa, against the apartheid pass laws.

• The United Nations General Assembly called on the international community to redouble its efforts to eliminate all forms of racial discrimination and proclaimed the day in 1966.