Week of solidarity with peoples fighting against racism and racial discrimination (21/03)

The Week of Solidarity with the Peoples Struggling against Racism and Racial Discrimination begins on March 21 — on the International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination. On this day in 1960, in Shaperville (South Africa), police opened fire on participants in a peaceful demonstration against the laws of the apartheid regime; 69 people were killed.

The decision to celebrate Solidarity Week was taken by the UN General Assembly (resolution 34/24) as part of the program of the first Decade of Action to Combat Racism and Racial Discrimination in 1979.

The General Assembly resolution states that all states must take measures to declare punishable by law any dissemination of the ideas of racism. In addition, all — UN member countries are encouraged to do everything possible to prohibit the activities of organizations based on racial hatred and prejudice, including fascist and neo-fascist associations, as well as private clubs and institutions that practice racial access criteria.

Despite all the efforts of the world community, cases of racial and ethnic discrimination occur on the planet every day, which complicates the development of humanity. Racism and intolerance can take many forms, from violating fundamental principles of equality to inciting ethnic hatred, which can lead to genocide.

The United Nations has been dealing with this issue since its founding, and the prohibition of racial discrimination is enshrined in all key international human rights instruments. In 2001, the World Conference against Racism adopted the most authoritative and comprehensive program to combat this phenomenon, called the Durban Declaration.

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