The International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination is held every year on March 21. It was on this day in 1960 that police officers opened fire killing 69 individuals at a peaceful demonstration in Sharpeville, South Africa, against the apartheid (Pass Laws). Since the tragedy in Sharpeville, the apartheid system in South Africa has been completely dismantled.
Racial discrimination can be defined as any discrimination against any individual on the basis of their skin colour, racial, or ethnic origin. Racial discrimination is fuelled by the hate and ignorance of the close-minded. March 21 is a day that both recognizes and symbolizes the unjust and prejudice fuelled by the racial discrimination and violence in our world each and every day. This day is a reminder to people that racial discrimination and violence hold negative consequences and therefore should not be tolerated or fuelled by any member of society.
This day is a reminder of society's obligations to combat racial discrimination and violence by way of validation, listening skills, becoming allies with people who report personal and systemic racism, and by having those hard conversations with ourselves about the racism and biases that live within us. We must be mindful of the commonalities that humans share, and practice empathy. Our obligations to the elimination of racial discrimination also include things such as: saying something if you see something, and by crossing the racial divide by offering friendly greetings to all people. We must educate ourselves on the racism that occurs where we live and do something about it by participating in and supporting anti-racist community events; we must also advocate for affirmative action practices in education and employment to further the discussions around racial discrimination and violence.
Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada established the Anti-Racism Task Force to combat systemic racism and promote greater equity. Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada has also resettled refugee women and children through Canada’s Assistance to Women at Risk Program; this program has engaged in measures to help newcomers leave situations of family violence, which have only been exacerbated by the pandemic. Canada leads by example in our commitment to diversity
It was Prime Minister Justin Trudeau who said, “We will continue to promote inclusiveness, acceptance, and equality in Canada and around the globe, and will never stop working for a safer, more equal, and more respectful world… We reaffirm our ongoing responsibility to speak out against racism, hate, xenophobia, and bigotry in all its forms. Silence is not an option because progress is never permanent.”
