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Media advisory

Message of the
Director-General
of UNESCO

UNESCO wishes to mark 21 March 2003, the International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination, in a truly exceptional manner. This will be the second International Day to be celebrated by UNESCO since the World Conference Against Racism, Racial Discrimination, Xenophobia, and Related Intolerance was held in 2001, in Durban, South Africa. This Conference, which marked the United Nations Third Decade (1993-2003) to combat Racism and Racial Discrimination, lends a second wind to the long and patient fight against the plague of racial discrimination.

Why 21 March?

The International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination was established in 1966, following a tragic event that shocks the conscience: the massacre of young students peacefully protesting against apartheid laws, adopted by the South African government, a brutal regime that applied the theory of inequality between races, regardless of humanity’s moral and ethical advances. Proclaiming the International Day, the United Nations General Assembly called upon the international community to redouble its efforts to eliminate all forms of racial discrimination (http://www.un.org/WCAR/21march.htm).

UNESCO celebrates 21 March

This year, UNESCO has put together a rich programme to mobilize its diverse partners, with the aim to sensitise the public of the dangers represented by the current rise of racism, xenophobia, and intolerance, everywhere in the world.

It is with great pleasure that UNESCO invites you to join in this celebration, to share your experiences, and to express your support to all victims of racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia, and related intolerance.

Free entry with security control.