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| Saturday, 20 March 2004 |
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'Racism, racial hatred and related discourse and practices cause horrors and deny whole groups of people their dignity and rights. Tolerance, inter-cultural dialogue and respect for diversity are more essential than ever in a world where peoples are becoming more and more closely inter-connected', says Kofi Annan, Secretary General of the United Nations in his message to mark the International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination. His full text reads: "On 21st March 1960, a non-violent protest took place in Sharpeville, South Africa, against the "pass laws" - one of the most hated institutions of apartheid; it ended with the death of 69 demonstrators. The Sharpeville massacre was a landmark in the history of the anti-apartheid movement. It also led the United Nations General Assembly to establish this annual observance, which is meant to draw attention to the fight against racism wherever and whenever it occurs. This year marks the 10th anniversary of the Rwandan genocide, reminding us of the horrors that ethnic and racial hatred can cause. This year is also the bicentenary of the revolution in Haiti, which led to the liberation from slavery of the peoples of the Caribbean and Latin American. And the General Assembly has proclaimed 2004 the International Year to Commemorate the struggle against slavery and its abolition. What must link these observances is not only our honouring the memory of the victims of past tragedies but also our determination to save others from becoming the victims of similar tragedies in the future. That means reversing the lasting consequences of slavery and the slave-trade. The historical injustices of slavery and the slave trade have contributed to the poverty, underdevelopment, marginalisation, social exclusion, economic disparities, instability and insecurity that affect many people in different parts of the world, in particular in developing countries. At the United Nations World Conference against Racism, Racial Discrimination, Xenophobia and Related Intolerance in 2001, states acknowledged that slavery and the slave trade were appalling tragedies in the history of humanity and among the major sources of racism. The United Nations remains strongly committed to helping people and countries to overcome this legacy, while at the same time combating contemporary forms of slavery - such as forced labour, including for the purpose of sexual exploitation - that remain a blight on our collective conscience. |
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