Observed annually on 21 March since 1966, the origins of how this date became a fixture on the United Nations calendar is filled with globally significant milestones.
The catalyst for this date being recognised was the Sharpeville Massacre in 1960. On 21 March, 1960 in Sharpeville, South Africa, police killed 69 peaceful protestors and injured 180 people at a demonstration against apartheid pass laws, which included limiting the free movement of those impacted.
This incident led to a chain of events involving the United Nations, which on 21 December 1965 adopted the International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination by UN General Assembly resolution 2106.
As the United Nation’s inaugural international human rights treaty, the convention was historic.
All participating State parties agreed to take individual and joint action as part of combating racism, with the treaty providing an overarching approach to the issue.
In 1979, the United Nations General Assembly outlined a program of activities to be held in the second part of the decade as part of the Program for the Decade for Action to Combat Racism and Racial Discrimination.
This was part of its overall resolve to achieve the end of racism, racial discrimination and apartheid.
Calling for a collaborative approach to achieve this goal, the comprehensive program importantly highlighted 21 March, specifying that a “week of solidarity with the peoples struggling against racism and racial discrimination beginning on 21 March should be organised annually in all States”.
The program also included measures to highlight the issues of racism, racial discrimination and apartheid such as carrying out activities to encourage youth participation in initiatives to combat these issues.
2025 marks the
60th anniversary of the Convention, which is the theme of this year’s International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination.
Demonstrating the importance of the recognising the International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination, in Western Australia, Harmony Week runs from 15-21 March each year, starting with a week of celebrations and ending with the 21 March as a day of reflection. The national dates are aligned with the calendar week of 21 March.
As WA Harmony Week draws to a close, the International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination is an opportunity for us all to consider the continued need to be proactive in taking a stand against racism and discrimination as part of daily life.
To find out more about this day or the International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination, go to the
United Nations website.
You can also find out how to be part of the worldwide move to #fightrascism with the Learn, Speak up, Act!
campaign resources.
Article sources and further reading:
http://humanrights.ca/story/sharpeville-massacre https://www.un.org/en/observances/end-racism-day United Nations International Days and Weeks calendar https://www.ohchr.org/en/get-involved/campaign/fight-racism