The International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination also provides an opportunity to address discrimination against the most vulnerable groups in societies, which is particularly topical in the light of the situation in Ukraine. The Russian Federation’s military aggression against Ukraine has resulted in massive displacement and people fleeing the horrors of war. Poor social and economic circumstances aggravate intolerance in societies and often lead to racism, racial discrimination and hate speech.

The central message of this year’s International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination is thus a call on people to oppose all forms of racial discrimination and to ensure a safe environment for those who speak up. Tolerance and respect must be embedded both at the level of the state and society all the way to individuals, with diversity being a universal value enriching and strengthening societies.

In the framework of international organisations, Slovenia will continue to strive for the full implementation of international legal instruments for the fight against racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and other forms of intolerance, the main legal basis for this fight being the International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination.

The International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination, 21 March, was declared in 1966 to mark the day in 1960 when the police in Sharpeville, South Africa, opened fire at a peaceful demonstration against apartheid laws, killing 69 and injuring 300.