The Declaration of Human Rights clearly states in Article 2, “Everyone is entitled to all the rights and freedoms set forth in this Declaration, without distinction of any kind, such as race, colour, sex, language, religion, political or other opinion, national or social origin, property, birth or other status.” Why weren’t these rights respected on March 21, 1960, when 69 people from Sharpeville, South Africa, were killed by police while taking part in a peaceful protest against Apartheid? This act of unprovoked brutality prompted international cries for action.

The United Nations General Assembly called on the international community to redouble its efforts to eliminate all forms of racial discrimination.  It was in 1966 that the International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination was proclaimed on March 21st and has been observed around the world every year since to focus attention on the problems of racism and the need to promote racial harmony.

Canada was one of the first countries to support the UN initiative and launched its first annual campaign against racial discrimination in 1989.  In 1996, the Racism. Stop It! National Video Competition became a key event in that campaign. For more information, please go to:
<http://www.cic.gc.ca/english/multiculturalism/march21/why.asp#video comp>