|  21 March 2013 -- On this day in 1960, police opened fire and killed 69 people peacefully demonstrating against apartheid "pass laws" in the township of Sharpeville, South Africa. The notorious passbooks were a repressive tool to control the movements of black South Africans. The United Nations General Assembly subsequently declared 21 March to be the International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination and called on the international community not only to commemorate that tragedy, but also to work together to combat racism and discrimination wherever they exist.
Racial and ethnic discrimination occur on a daily basis, hindering progress for millions of people around the world. Racism and intolerance can take various forms − from denying individuals the basic principles of equality to fuelling ethnic hatred that may lead to genocide − all of which can destroy lives and fracture communities.
Since the Sharpeville massacre, substantial progress has been made in the struggle against racism. The apartheid system in South Africa has been dismantled. Racist laws and practices have been abolished in many countries, and an international framework for fighting racism, guided by the International Convention on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination, has been established. The Convention is now nearing universal ratification. Yet still, in all regions, too many individuals, communities and societies suffer from the injustice and stigma that racism brings.
Source: United Nations
Selected learning materials
Learning Activities for Use With Young People to Explore the Issue of Discrimination
These five lesson activities, developed by Amnesty International, explore the issue of discrimination using discussion, group exercise, project work and a copy of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights.
The international basis for intercultural education including anti-racist and human rights education
The goal of this publication is to make international human rights treaties more known, particularly those that consider teaching and education as effective means to shape international human rights standards into reality.
The Struggle Against Discrimination: A Collection of International Instruments Adopted by the United Nations System (by UNESCO)
This collection of international instruments against discrimination consists of the full text of 27 treaties and declarations from the UN system, the International Labour Organisation and UNESCO. The book also includes two introductory essays.
United Nations Guide for Minorities
This guide has been prepared with a view to assisting minorities in understanding how to seek protection of their rights through the different procedures existing at the international and regional levels. Practical advice is also given on how to take legal action where members of minorities consider that their rights under a particular treaty have been violated.
Using the international human rights system to combat racial discrimination. A Handbook by Amnesty International
This handbook is intended to be of use to non-governmental organisations and others who wish to address and combat racial discrimination.
International and regional standards on combating racial discrimination:
International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination (1965)
International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (1966)
International Convention on the Suppression and Punishment of the Crime of Apartheid (1976)
UNESCO Declaration on Race and Racial Prejudice (1978)
Declaration on the Rights of Persons Belonging to National or Ethnic, Religious and Linguistic Minorities (1992)
Useful links
Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination (CERD)
Durban Review Conference 2009
Racism. Stop it! initiative (Canada)
World Conference Against Racism (2001)
Links to organisations that are involved in preventing and combating racism and racial discrimination
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