The Secretary-General: Message on the International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination

For information only - not an official document

UNIS/SGSM/1573
19 March 2026

The Secretary-General

21 March 2026

The ancient poison of racism is alive and kicking in every community, society, country and region of the world.

It lives on in the legacies of colonialism, enslavement and oppression, which drive so many of the problems we face today - from economic, social and political inequality, to discriminatory policies and practices, to outright conflicts. And it spreads via new digital tools and technologies that inundate us with hate speech, perpetuating lies and harmful stereotypes that often spill over into real-world violence and abuse.

The antidote is unity and action. All governments, institutions, businesses and communities must work together to address racism and safeguard the dignity, justice, equality and human rights that belong to every person.

This means universal ratification and full implementation of the International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination.

And it means living up to the Durban Declaration and Programme of Action, now marking its 25th year, which includes concrete steps to end racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance.

Today, and every day, we must take a stand. We must fight for the dignity, rights and belonging of every person on earth, and erase the stain of racism from our world.

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