{"id":51652,"date":"2014-03-21T08:00:55","date_gmt":"2014-03-21T07:00:55","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/cesie.org\/news-4\/international-day-for-the-elimination-of-racial-discrimination\/"},"modified":"2025-09-30T15:55:35","modified_gmt":"2025-09-30T13:55:35","slug":"international-day-for-the-elimination-of-racial-discrimination","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/cesie.org\/en\/news\/international-day-for-the-elimination-of-racial-discrimination\/","title":{"rendered":"International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

I hate race discrimination most intensely and in all its manifestations. I have fought it all during my life; I fight it now, and will do so until the end of my days<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Nelson Mandela<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

The key role of leaders in combating racism and racial discrimination is the theme chosen this year by the Office of the UN High Commission for Human Rights, so as to celebrate the International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Durban Declaration and Programme of Action, adopted on September 8th<\/sup> 2001, underlined \u201cthe key role that political leaders and political parties can and ought to play in combating racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance<\/em>\u201d and \u201cencouraged political parties to take concrete steps to promote solidarity, tolerance and respect<\/em>\u201d.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

For this reason, this year\u2019s International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination has a peculiar significance as it is an important occasion to investigate about the importance of politicians who attempt to answer to the demands of an ever-changing society.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

We live in a world in which the interactions among people from different backgrounds have become familiar, so that it is necessary to adopt common strategies that might allow us to fight racism in all its contemporary forms.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

To discriminate means to condemn people to poverty, underdevelopment, marginalization, social exclusion and economic inequalities. The UN have identified in the consisting action of some political leaders, the spark that could inspire authentic changes and might contribute to eradicate any discriminatory behaviour within society.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Differences written on our bodies and in our personal stories cannot and should not ever ignite a discriminatory attitude, which is the outcome of a cult of violence.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Unfortunately, due to the persistence of the economical and financial crisis, numerous leitmotifs used by rightist populist and xenophobic parties have come back in the contemporary political discourse. Those themes have contributed to provoke a political and linguistic black-out, that nurture a culture of fear and diffidence, in contrast to the desirable principles of tolerance and respect.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Therefore, a few months before the EU parliament elections, ENAR\u2019s campaign I vote for diversity<\/em> appears more and more necessary. The campaign has been conceived in order to encourage European citizen to vote against racial discrimination, so as to elect a European Parliament in which minorities are respected and equality is a priority.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The demands contained in I vote for diversity<\/em> document are seven: tackle all forms of racism, measure equality in outcome, step-up efforts against racist violence, promote diversity and equality at work; proactively react against racist element in political discourse, include minorities and migrants in decision making progress, establish an intergroup on anti-racism and diversity.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In Turin, during the International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination, ENAR will  release its 201\/2013 shadow reports on discrimination in employment.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

According to the reports published on ENAR website, the economical and financial crisis has worsened the employment gap between migrants, ethnic and religious minorities and the majority of population in the EU Member States. Moreover, disadvantages and difficulties to access the labour market persist for people from a migratory background. Italian independent researchers have reported the same discouraging framework, especially in regards to Roma and Sinti citizens, Muslims, refugees and asylum seekers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Will European future political leaders manage to impose a change? While trying to answer positively to this question, we should ask ourselves how do we participate in the daily fight against racial discrimination.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

CESIE has contributed and continues to contribute to the struggle against racial discrimination with a number of projects such as:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

ALCE \u2013 Appetite for Learning Comes with Eating<\/strong>, aiming to develop intercultural and intergenerational dialogue by sharing recipes belonging to different cultural contexts.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Feel it! \u2013 Feel the difference<\/strong>, aiming to bridge local and migrant communities, educating them to tolerance and mutual respect.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Platform for Voice<\/strong> \u2013 thanks to this project CESIE will give a voice to those who are silenced. During the four forums organized by CESIE and its partners, migrant communities in Palermo, London, Amsterdam and Thessaloniki, will create and release messages and statements about the positive aspects of migration processes, in order to contrast the rethoric of racism in the run to the upcoming European elections (25th May 2014). The forum in Palermo will take place on Friday the 4th<\/sup> of April 2014.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

On March 21st<\/sup>, join us and celebrate the International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination. Instituted in 1966 by UN General Assembly with the resolution 2142\/XXI, it aims at raising awareness among the International community and encouraging governments in promoting concrete actions in order to fight racial discrimination. <\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Why \u2013 on March 21st? The assembly chose this date, because on March 21st 1960, South African security forces fired and killed 69 people out of thousands, who have gathered in front of the local police station in order to manifest against the pass laws which restrained the apartheid regime.  <\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Learn more about this issue:<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n