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Issue No: 111
March 21, 2009

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Rights monitor


Eliminate racial discrimination

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On 21 March 1960, the township of Sharpeville, South Africa was rocked by violence when police opened fire and killed 69 people peacefully demonstrating against apartheid "pass laws”. The notorious passbooks were a repressive tool to control the movements of black South Africans. The United Nations General Assembly subsequently declared that day, 21 March, the International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination, and called on the international community not only to commemorate that tragedy, but also to work together to combat racism and discrimination wherever they exist.

In 2009, this Day occurs just prior to the "Durban Review Conference”, to take place in Geneva from 20-24 April. This will be a follow up to the 2001 “World Conference against Racism”. Despite controversies, the 2001 conference produced a Declaration and Programme of Action, stating commitments to end racial discrimination, including the statement that “education, development and the faithful implementation of all international human rights norms and obligations, including enactment of laws and political, social and economic policies, are crucial to combat racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance”.

The High Commissioner for Human Rights, Navi Pillay, is highlighting the situation for international migrants in the lead-up to the Durban Review. There are an estimated 200 million international migrants in the world today who are frequently treated like second-class citizens; their rights are often denied and they are exposed to xenophobia and racism. The 2001 World Conference on Racism highlighted the magnitude of the challenges posed by migration and their impact on human rights in general.

According to Pillay, "Migrants are still discriminated against in an unacceptable manner in almost all societies, and are usually subject to working conditions and pay far below the standards enjoyed by citizens. Migrants are consistently denied entitlements to social security or housing, and excluded from employment and other opportunities"

Sources: Durban Review Conference 2009, United Nations.

 
 
 
 


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