The international day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination is observed annually on 21 March, the date when police in Sharpeville, South Africa, opened fire and killed 69 people at a peaceful demonstration against apartheid in 1960.

• This year marks the 75th anniversary of the adoption of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, a blueprint for international human rights principles. Drafted by representatives of diverse cultural and legal backgrounds from all corners of the world, it states that everyone is entitled to human rights and freedoms without distinctions of any kind, such as race, colour and descent. But racism and racial discrimination continue to deeply impact people all over the world.
• With that in mind, the 2023 theme for the International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination focuses on the urgency of combatting racism and racial discrimination. 
• We must take prompt and powerful steps to advance equality and combat racism, racial discrimination and xenophobia.