Master Class Series against Racism and Discriminations
Empowering Youth to Combat Racism and Discrimination
Launched by UNESCO in November 2019 as a global “training for trainers” initiative, the Master Class Series against Racism and Discriminations seeks to empower students to become youth champions in their own schools and communities and spread awareness on how to deconstruct the mechanisms underlying racism and discriminations.
Depending on the regional and local contexts, the programme content and the curriculum of each Master Class are designed by UNESCO in collaboration with local partners and stakeholders.
Each edition of the Master Class series culminates with the adoption of the young participants’ commitments in designing and pursuing their own local activities. In collaboration with the member cities of the International Coalition of Inclusive and Sustainable Cities - ICCAR, editions in all regions are being planned and will be organized throughout 2020-2021.
Objectives of this Master Class Series
Highlighting the growing significance of this social scourge, the Master Class Series has the following objectives:
- To give young people the keys and tools to understand the concepts and scientific evidence to decipher racist attitudes and behaviour;
- To propose inspiring models to equip young people to take action at their level in the fight against racism and discriminations;
- To inspire policymakers, at the global, national, and local levels, to pursue collective efforts in the fight against racism and discriminations.
Global Edition of the Master Class against Racism and Discriminations 2023
On 21 March 2023, UNESCO hosted a global edition of its Master Class Series against Racism and Discriminations at its Headquarters in Paris. This global edition served as a laboratory of ideas to enable young people to have a voice in this global movement.
Fostering Open Dialogue
The Master Classes serve as dialogue spaces and peer learning forums among the young participants, the experts and resource persons, and the invited personalities, in order to openly discuss the taboos that corrode the social and moral fibre in societies.
Using a human rights-based approach, the courses address various topics related to inclusion and non-discrimination, such as racial discrimination, gender-based discrimination, rights of indigenous peoples, and discrimination against persons with disabilities, inter alia.
News
Events
Breaking Barriers Globally
Since the beginning of 2020, UNESCO has organized nine master classes addressing racism, discriminations and intolerance. Most recently, the Organization has participated in three joint Master Classes:
- Master Class on “Transforming Sport”, organized by Comude Guadalajara in Guadalajara (Mexico) on December 1, 2020.
- Master Class on Racism, organized by COPRED in Mexico City (Mexico) on November 19, 2020. Watch the full recording here (Passcode: u&j6u5r4)
- Master Class on Colonial Continuities and Climate Activism (European Coalition of Cities Against Racism – ECCAR), organized by the city of Heidelberg (Germany) on November 1, 2020. More information.
The Master Class in numbers
felt prepared to fight racism and discriminations in his/her local community.
they felt able to share these new teachings with their family and peers.
reported that they were satisfied with the master class they attended
another UNESCO master class in the future
brought awareness, educated and inspired them to be more tolerant.
letting them spread the word of tolerance more effectively.
Contact
If you wish to organize a master class in your school or community, please contact us at: masterclass@unesco.org
Previous editions
- 7 November 2019: Opening session (UNESCO Paris)
- 10 March 2020: Caen, in collaboration with the International Institute for Human Rights
- 6 May 2020: Master Class “In the time of COVID-19” (online)
- 23 July 2020: Master Class “In the time of #BlackLivesMatter” (online)
- 1 November 2020: Master Class “Colonial Continuities and Climate Activism” (Heidelberg)
- 16 November 2020: Master Class on Tolerance (online)
- 19 November 2020: Master Class “Philosophical Perspectives” (online)
- 19 November 2020: Master Class on Racism (COPRED Mexico)
- 25 November 2020: Master Class “Youth against gender-based violence” (online)
- 1 December 2020: Master Class on Transforming Sport, Guadalajara (Mexico)
- 29 January 2021: Master Class “Lucky Luke takes a stand against racism”
- 16 March 2021: Master Class Against Racism (Lausanne)
- 19 March 2021: Master Class against Racism and Discrimination” (Guadalajara, Spain)
- October 2021: Master Class with UN Country Teams
- October 2021: Master Class, Nancy, Liège and Karlsruhe
- 8 December 2021: Master Class against Racism and Discriminations, ba&sh (Paris)
- 21 March 2022: Global Edition - Master Class “Promoting Intercultural Dialogue” (Paris)
- 21 March 2022: Bologna, “Reading and telling current events: The links between migration, climate change and colonial continuity" (Zonarelli Intercultural Center)
- 21 March 2023: Global Edition - Master Class “Youth as agents of change in the fight against racism and discriminations”