On 19 March, UNESCO and the French Federation of UNESCO Clubs invited young people to discuss the issue of racism and discrimination at a youth gathering at UNESCO Headquarters in Paris (France).

The gathering was divided in two sessions and animated by the French associations Association Service Social Familial Migrants (ASSFAM) and Pédagodroit. Both sessions allowed the participants to develop a common understanding of concepts, behaviours and existing legal frameworks and deal with different means to combat racism and discrimination.

The debate was followed by the inauguration of the photo exhibition “Avec ELLE, avec LUI” (“With her, with him”). Produced by students and teachers from the Rosa Luxemburg School in Aubervilliers (France), the exhibition illustrates in thirty photos the diversity of relationships between people from different backgrounds, beyond stereotypes and prejudices. It is thus a wonderful appeal for mutual respect and tolerance.

The International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination (21 March) was first established in 1966, following a tragic event that shocked the conscience: the massacre of young students peacefully protesting against apartheid laws, adopted by the South African government, a brutal regime that applied the theory of inequality between races, regardless of humanity’s moral and ethical advances. By proclaiming the International Day, the United Nations General Assembly called upon the international community to redouble its efforts to eliminate all forms of racial discrimination.

Download the Programme [PDF in French, 227 KB]

Message from Irina Bokova, Director-General of UNESCO, on the occasion of the International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination, 21 March 2010

For more information please contact: Kornelia Guse, k.guse@unesco.org