Voices for Action against Racism
Each year, the world commemorates the International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination on 21 March, the day the police in Sharpeville, South Africa, opened fire and killed 69 people at a peaceful demonstration against apartheid "pass laws" in 1960.
The theme for this year’s commemoration is “Voices for Action against Racism”.
Despite progress, racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance, still permeate societies around the world and deeply affect the lives and human rights of millions of people, including Africans and people of African descent, Asians and people of Asian descent, indigenous peoples, migrants, national, ethnic and linguistic minorities, and religious communities. We need everyone’s voice to stand in solidarity with the victims of racism and join their fight for racial justice and equality.
Silence is indifference. It contributes to perpetuating racial discrimination and oppression. It muffles the voices of those who have the courage to stand up against racism.
Only by raising our voices together can we break this silence. Let’s stand with to those who face racism and listen to their experiences and concerns. Let’s combat fake and harmful discriminatory narratives and ensure that everyone’s voice is taken into account. Our diversity is a source of strength, never a threat.
Join us and add your voice to demand action against racism and racial discrimination.
Racism is everyone’s fight
1. Listen up, Raise your voice, Take action
Let’s listen to all those who face racism, and acknowledge their experiences and concerns. Let’s break the silence that helps maintain racial discrimination and oppression and demand change.Let’s stand united against all forms of racism, hatred, prejudice and intolerance, and act to achieve racial justice and equality.
2. Let’s strengthen human rights education
Ending discrimination benefits everyone. This starts with human rights education - including the history of racism, enslavement, colonialism and their legacies in structural inequalities that still plague societies today. Let’s celebrate diversity and acknowledge its contributions to our societies. Let’s strengthen education for human rights, so that everyone, in particular young people, have the tools to fight against oppression, racism and discrimination.
3. Let’s ensure full representation, participation and protection
Those who face and stand up against racism must be protected and included, and their contributions to society celebrated. They have the right to exercise their rights to freedom of expression and peaceful assembly in a safe environment, without facing violence or retaliation. Let’s ensure their full participation, without discrimination, in the design, implementation and evaluation of laws, policies, programmes and strategies affecting their rights and lives.
Get inspired
Tune in on 21 March for the Anti-Racism Live event presented by our partner Peace One Day. The event will be live-streamed from 9am to 8pm (GMT) on https://peaceoneday.org/Main/
Watch the videos of our human rights champions and take action.
#Covid19 is still fueling anti-Asian racism. How do we #StopAsianHate & #FightRacism of every kind? Phillip Lim, UN Human Rights Champion & top fashion designer calls us all to show up, speak out & rebuild societies that celebrate and include everyone.
Phillip Lim, UN Human Rights Champion & top fashion designer:
Take action
Show your support for #FightRacism by adding your photo to our special filter for 21 March or to other filters inspired by the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. Share it on social media using the hashtags #StandUp4HumanRights and #FightRacism.
- I will respect your rights regardless of who you are. I will uphold your rights even when I disagree with you
- When anyone’s human rights are denied, everyone's rights are undermined, so I will stand up
- I will raise my voice. I will take action. I will use my rights to stand up for your rights.
people have stood up for human rights
We can all be Human Rights Champions
Tweet, Instagram or YouTube your action using the hashtag #Standup4humanrights.
#Standup4humanrights