International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination2026 · Date · History · Messages · Quotes
A/RES/2142 (XXI)
About International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination
The International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination is a United Nations observance held on 21 March. It commemorates the 1960 Sharpeville massacre in South Africa, where police killed people taking part in a peaceful protest against apartheid pass laws.
The day is used to focus attention on racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance, and on the responsibility of institutions and communities to protect equality and human dignity.
Why International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination matters
The observance links remembrance with present-day action. Remembering Sharpeville gives the date a specific historical anchor, while the wider UN framework connects the day to equality before the law, human rights and opposition to racial discrimination.
Useful observance content should not reduce racism to individual politeness alone. It can also address institutions, access, representation, discriminatory rules and the ways prejudice can affect people differently.
History of International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination
On 21 March 1960, police opened fire on a peaceful anti-apartheid demonstration in Sharpeville, South Africa. The date became an international symbol in the struggle against racial discrimination.
The United Nations General Assembly proclaimed the International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination in 1966. It has been observed annually on 21 March.
The first international commemoration was held on 21 March 1967 across UN Member States, the United Nations system and participating organizations.
How the observance developed
This timeline uses documented milestones from reviewed sources. Missing stages are left out rather than guessed.
United Nations General Assembly
UN General Assembly resolution 2142 (XXI)
First documented observance
The United Nations Yearbook for 1967 explicitly states that on 21 March 1967 the first International Day for the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination was commemorated in Member States and across the UN system.
What the evidence establishes
Confirmed institutional roles and milestones are shown first. Details that could not be established from the reviewed sources are listed separately below.
4 fields not established in reviewed sources
How to Observe International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination
Use first-party human-rights resources to explain the Sharpeville history and why 21 March was chosen.
Audit a school, workplace or organization for barriers in access, participation or representation rather than limiting the day to slogans.
Host a moderated discussion on how laws, institutions and everyday behavior can contribute to or challenge racial discrimination.
Highlight anti-racism work led by affected communities and avoid presenting people only through stories of harm.
If discussing legal discrimination or remedies, link to the competent authority or qualified legal resource for the relevant jurisdiction.
International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination Facts
The observance is held on 21 March.
The date commemorates the 1960 Sharpeville massacre in South Africa.
The United Nations General Assembly proclaimed the international day in 1966.
The first international commemoration was held on 21 March 1967.
The observance addresses racial discrimination and related forms of intolerance.
It is a UN international observance; that does not make 21 March a statutory public holiday in every country.
International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination Messages
May International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination encourage thoughtful participation, shared responsibility and action that continues after the observance ends.
Wishing everyone observing International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination a day of reflection, constructive dialogue and purposeful follow-through.
On International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination, may awareness lead to informed discussion, practical action and respect for the communities at the heart of the observance.
International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination Quotes
“No one is born hating another person because of the colour of his skin, or his background, or his religion.”
Topic and context
What this page does not assume
- Keep the source-defined country, community, organizer or institutional scope; do not silently broaden it.
- Do not treat the title alone as proof of government recognition or public-holiday status.
- Do not add a creator, founding story or origin claim unless the supporting evidence establishes it.
Evidence & sources
Sources used across the guide are gathered here. Labels show how each source supports the page, and contextual references are kept separate from primary evidence.
United Nations Digital Library — resolution 2142 (XXI) (opens in a new tab)
United Nations Yearbook 1967 — first International Day commemoration (opens in a new tab)
United Nations — International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination (opens in a new tab)
Dedicated Authoritative Page
Understand it, compare it, then explore further
Start with the most common factual questions, then compare closely related observances and explore useful connections.
Frequently asked questions
When is International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination?
21 March The documented recurrence rule is: 21 March.
Does International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination fall on the same date every year?
Yes. It uses a fixed annual date unless stronger evidence changes the pattern.
Is International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination an official public holiday?
The reviewed sources verify it within this scope: United Nations international observance. That recognition does not by itself make it a statutory public holiday; the site only makes public-holiday claims when reliable evidence explicitly does so.
Who established or recognizes International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination?
The reviewed sources identify United Nations General Assembly as the proclaiming or establishing body.
Is International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination international or country-specific?
The documented scope is international or global: United Nations international observance. That does not mean every country treats the date as a public holiday or observes it in the same way.
How is this page verified?
The factual information is checked against reviewed sources, including the date pattern, scope and institutional history. This page was checked on 2026-09-05.
Why is the observance on 21 March?
21 March commemorates the 1960 Sharpeville massacre, when police opened fire on a peaceful anti-apartheid protest in South Africa.
When did the United Nations establish the day?
The UN General Assembly proclaimed the International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination in 1966.
Is the day only about interpersonal prejudice?
No. UN anti-racism work also concerns discriminatory laws, institutions, unequal treatment and broader barriers to equality and human rights.
How this differs from closely related observances
These distinctions use the cited evidence to clarify scope without treating related observances as identical.
Is International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination the same as Zero Discrimination Day?
The 21 March UN observance specifically addresses racial discrimination and commemorates the Sharpeville massacre. Zero Discrimination Day on 1 March has a broader non-discrimination and inclusion scope led by UNAIDS.
Open Zero Discrimination Day →Distinction sources
Other observances on March 21
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California Strawberry Day
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Harmony Day
Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet, Australian Government
Human Rights Day
The South African Government’s public-holidays page lists Human Rights Day on 21 March.
Independence Day
Namibia government history states that independence occurred on 21 March 1990 and that Independence Day is annually celebrated on March 21; the Public Holidays Act independently lists the s…
International Colour Day
International Colour Association (AIC)
International Day of Forests
A/RES/67/200