International Day for the Elimination of Racial

Discrimination (IDERD) 2014

No one is born hating another person because of the colour of his skin, or his background or his
religion. People learn to hate, and if they can learn to hate, they can learn to love, for love comes more
naturally to the human heart than its opposite. Nelson Mandela.
Racism is mans gravest threat to man the maximum of hatred for a minimum of reasons.
Abraham Joshua Heschel.
Today, 21 March, is the UN designated International Day for the Elimination of Racial
Discrimination (IDERD). It is a day to renew our commitment to building a world of justice,
equality and dignity, where racial discrimination has no place. Racism, xenophobia and
intolerance are problems prevalent in all societies. They 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 all of which
destroys lives and fractures communities. Racial discrimination violates the inherent rights of
men and women, adults and children. It holds back entire societies from lasting peace, and sets
obstacles before development. At the heart of all forms of discrimination are ignorance and
prejudice.
On this day in 1960, police opened fire and killed 69 people at a peaceful demonstration in
Sharpeville, South Africa, against the apartheid pass laws. Proclaiming the Day in 1966, the
General Assembly called on the international community to redouble its efforts to eliminate all
forms of racial discrimination. Last years theme was Racism and Sport, chosen by the Office of
the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights to highlight the problem of racism in sports, which
remains a disturbing occurrence in many parts of the world, as well as to raise awareness of the
role sports can play in combating racism and racial discrimination. The theme for this years
IDERD is The Role of Leaders in Combating Racism and Racial Discrimination. The aim is to
highlight the key role that leaders play in mobilising political will to combat racism and racial
discrimination. The theme for this day is particularly poignant given the recent passing of Nelson
Mandela.
Article 1 of the International Convention on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination defines racial
discrimination as any distinction, exclusion, restriction or preference based on race, colour, descent,
or national or ethnic origin which has the purpose or effect of nullifying or impairing the recognition,
enjoyment or exercise, on an equal footing, of human rights and fundamental freedoms in the
political, economic, social, cultural or any other field of public life. Additionally, the Convention on
the Rights of the Child Article 2 calls upon States Parties to respect and ensure that every child
within their jurisdiction has their rights fulfilled, without discrimination of any kind, irrespective
of their race, colour, sex, language, national, ethnic or social origin. The Convention has had a
significant impact on national legislation, with many states adopting legislation outlawing racial

discrimination by the state, in the workplace, or in the provision of services such as housing and
education. For example, the Race Relations Act 1971 (New Zealand), the Racial Discrimination Act
1975 (Australia) and the Race Relations Act 1976 (UK).
While racist laws and practices have been abolished and criminalised in many countries, and the
International Convention is now nearing universal ratification, in all regions, too many
individuals, communities and societies suffer from the injustice and stigma that racism brings.
Across Europe the fascist and populist racist right are on the rise. From the violent Golden Dawn
in Greece, the anti-Roma Jobbik in Hungary, the Islamophobic Freedom Party of Geert Wilders in
the Netherlands to the success of the Front National in France, these currents are encouraging
hatred, fear and prejudice in a frightening wave across the continent. De facto segregation in
schools remains a challenge, particularly for Roma children. Widespread practice in Central and
Eastern Europe whereby students of Roma origin are channelled into special schools for children
with learning disabilities, regardless of their intellectual abilities. National or ethnic, religious and
linguistic minorities around the world face various impediments to accessing education, resulting
either from a policy of historical discrimination or injustice, or from poverty, poor health and lack
of adequate sanitation, and other structural factors.

What is Childreach International doing?

In order to combat racial discrimination, we work to ensure that children from all ethnic
backgrounds are included in our projects in Bangladesh, India, Morocco, Nepal, Tanzania and the
UK, irrespective of local customary or traditional attitudes which discriminate against certain
groups. Education that is sensitive to, and respects cultural diversity, plays an essential role in
the prevention and eradication of all forms of intolerance and discrimination. It remains the
most powerful way to prevent racism and uproot discrimination. This is why, while teaching
children about their rights, we also teach them about the importance of equality between all
individuals, irrespective of their ethnicity, race, gender or nationality. In our My School My Voice
project in the UK, we have found that children, when taught about equality and other cultures,
become far more open-minded and tolerant of children from other cultures.
Additionally, we are currently fundraising for an anti-trafficking project in Nepal. Children,
especially girls, from certain communities are at higher risk of exploitation because of the
groups marginalisation from the majority, and they are therefore at greater risk of being
trafficked from Nepal to India where they are forced to work in brothels or as domestic
labourers. In order to combat child trafficking in Nepal, we will be teaching children the
importance of equality between all people, irrespective of their language, culture and religion.
Each and every one of us plays a role in either contributing to, or breaking down, racial prejudice and
intolerant attitudes. What will you be doing today to stop racism? Tweet us your thoughts
@ChildreachInt using the hashtag #IDERD.