Message from the Defence Team Champions for Racialized Persons on the International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination 2026

March 20, 2026 - Defence Stories

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Each year on March 21, the Defence Team joins the international community in marking the International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination (IDERD), to reflect on our shared responsibility to uphold dignity, fairness, and respect for all.

This day reinforces that the strength of the Defence Team rests not only on our operational readiness, but also on the values we live every day. Our Values and Ethics, our commitment to professional conduct, and our collective accountabilities shape the culture that enables trust, cohesion, and mission effectiveness. We all play an essential role in fostering workplaces where people feel safe to speak, where concerns are addressed with fairness and care, and where accountability is clear.

Combatting systemic racism and racial discrimination in the Defence Team requires vigilance, prevention, and action. It requires us to confront behaviours that undermine dignity, such as exclusion and hateful conduct, which includes racism and behaviours motivated by extremist ideologies. Such behaviours run counter to our professional obligations and to the ethical foundations of the Defence Team. They erode cohesion within our teams, weaken trust, harm individuals and communities, and ultimately undermine our operational effectiveness.

Over the past several years, the Defence Team has taken meaningful steps to strengthen governance, enhance reporting mechanisms, and improve training and education related to racism, discrimination and hateful conduct. These efforts also contribute to prevention by helping members recognize risks early, address concerns responsibly, and strengthen a workplace culture where diversity is recognized as a strategic advantage.

An important part of this work is the Defence Team Anti-Racism Framework, which provides institutional direction for identifying, addressing, and preventing systemic racism across policies, programs, and workplace practices. Supporting this effort is the Anti-Racism Lens, a practical tool for Defence Team members to implement the Framework in their everyday work. Together, these tools help translate our commitments into meaningful action and strengthen accountability across the institution.

As we mark IDERD this year, we invite all members of the Defence Team to reflect on the role each of us plays in advancing a culture grounded in values and ethics, professionalism, and respect. By fostering empathy, challenging discrimination, and supporting one another, we strengthen both our institution and the people who serve within it.

Together, let us continue building a Defence Team that reflects the best of Canada, one where dignity, respect, and inclusion are not only aspirations, but everyday realities.