The International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination (IDERD) is observed each year on 21 March.
In 1979, to support the Decade for Action to Combat Racism and Racial Discrimination, the United Nations General Assembly adopted a programme of activities. This included a call for all states to organise an annual “week of solidarity with the peoples struggling against racism and racial discrimination, beginning on 21 March.” This date marks the 1960 Sharpeville massacre in South Africa, where police shot and killed 69 people and wounded many more who were peacefully protesting against apartheid.
Racism remains an ongoing barrier to equitable access and participation in education and society more broadly. Despite the adoption of the International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination and the passing of the Racial Discrimination Act in Australia, racism continues to threaten peace and undermines the rights that are set out in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights.
The International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination is an important opportunity for us to reflect on the past and consider the ongoing impact of racism and what we can do to address and prevent it from occurring. Our collective action can create the change that is needed to advance equity for all.
This card can be downloaded and used by schools to help build and promote an environment where everyone is confident to stand up and speak out against racism.
Print enough copies to provide to each student.
Brainstorm a list of possible actions that students can take. Students may choose one of the listed actions or one of their own.
Ask the students to write three things on the card. They write:
- one word to describe what they think of racism
- one thing that they will do if they experience or witness racism
- one thing they will do to help prevent racism.
Cards can then be collected and displayed in a visible place in the school. The messaging can be used in school communications.
Download the Racism. No Way – 21 March Poster and Cards Here.
Lessons
Utilise the lessons on this site to build an understanding of racism, its impact and how to respond and prevent racism from occurring.
Other resources
Sibeko, David; Reeves, Ambrose, Bishop (1984), The Sharpeville massacre of 20 March 1960: its historic significance in the struggle against apartheid UN, https://digitallibrary.un.org/record/74629?ln=en&v=pdf , UN. Centre against Apartheid, viewed 19 February 2025
United Nations (1979), Implementation of the Programme for the Decade for Action to Combat Racism and Racial Discrimination, viewed 19 February 2025
United Nations. (n.d.).International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination, 21 March