International Day for the Elimination of
Racial Discrimination: March 21
"I have fought against white domination, and I have fought against black domination. I have cherished the ideal of a democratic and free society in which all persons will live together in harmony with equal opportunities. It is an ideal which I hope to live for, and to see realised. But my Lord, if needs be, it is an ideal for which I am prepared to die."
Nelson Mandela, defence statement during the Rivonia Trial, 1964. Also repeated during the closing of his speech delivered in Cape Town on the day he was released from prison 27 years later, on 11 February 1990.
The International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination was first established in 1966, following the 1960 Sharpeville, South Africa tragedy. On March 21, 1960 approximately 7,500 anti apartheid demonstrators marched to the police station in Sharpville, South Africa to protest a law that required all black Africans and People of Colour to carry a Passbook to travel in the country. During this rally, police opened fire and killed 69 peaceful demonstrators, including 8 women and 10 children, and an additional 180 people were injured. Six years later in 1966, this event became known as the Sharpeville massacre and the United Nations declared March 21 as the International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination.
The ETFO Human Rights Statement declares that the federation is committed to:
- providing an environment for members that is free from harassment and discrimination at all provincial and local Federation sponsored activities;
- fostering the goodwill and trust necessary to protect the rights of all individuals within the organization;
- neither tolerating nor condoning behaviour that undermines the dignity or self-esteem of individuals or the integrity of relationships; and
- promoting mutual respect, understanding and co-operation as the basis of interaction among all members.
Harassment and discrimination on the basis of a prohibited ground are violations of the Ontario Human Rights Code and are illegal. The Elementary Teachers' Federation of Ontario will not tolerate any form of harassment or discrimination, as defined by the Ontario Human Rights Code, at any federation-sponsored activity (provincial or local).
Racial and enthocultural harassment may include, but is not limited to:
- ridiculing, degrading, or expressing hatred or intolerance, whether verbally, in writing, or physically, based on race or ethnic origin;
- displaying offensive or derogatory materials of a racist nature; or
- refusal to work with a person because of race or ethnicity.
On March 21 each year, teachers across the province are encouraged to participate in the day's events. Please visit the websites below for curriculum suggestions, resources and historical facts.
The Kit is a bilingual manual containing 61 pages of information, history, resources, and tools for anti-racism education. The manual has been created by youth for youth, but is also useful for educators, parents, community leaders, anti-racism activists, ethnocultural groups, and non-governmental organizations.
United Nations - Cyber School bus: teacher resources in the area of equity and human rights.
Building Bridges: Not Walls: British Columbia Teacher Federation (BCTF) - a comprehensive teacher friendly website with links to curriculum and resources.
Friends of Simon Wiesenthal Center For Holocaust Studies
Canadian Race Relation Foundation
National Film Board of Canada