March 22, 2014Ayyaantuu
Ayyaantuu News Online
mandelaElimination of Racial Discrimination for the first time following the death of Nelson Mandela.
This year, the Day is a reminder to us all of his courageous struggle against apartheid and his inspiring victory over the racist forces that had imprisoned him for 27 years.
In a show of solidarity with the anti-apartheid movement, the UN General Assemblyestablished this Day to commemorate the 1960 Sharpeville Massacre, when 69 people were killed and many others injured as police opened fire on a peaceful protest against South Africa’s appalling pass laws.
Nelson Mandela’s journey from prisoner to President was the triumph of an extraordinary individual against the forces of hate, ignorance and fear – and it was a testimony to the power of courage, reconciliation and forgiveness to overcome the injustice of racial discrimination.
He chose Sharpeville for the historic signing of South Africa’s new Constitution in 1996. On that occasion, President Mandela said, “Out of the many Sharpevilles which haunt our history was born the unshakeable determination that respect for human life, liberty and well-being must be enshrined as rights beyond the power of any force to diminish.”
Today, we remember Sharpeville as a symbol of the terrible toll of racism, and we honour those who lost their lives during the massacre. At the same time, we recall that President Mandela framed Sharpeville’s legacy as an unwavering resolve to protect the dignity and rights of all people.
The lessons of South Africa’s staunch defence of equality “out of the many Sharpevilles” in the country’s history can be applied anywhere in the world, not only in response to organized, institutional forms of racism but wherever it occurs, including in our daily interactions with others – from the workplace, to the classroom, to our personal lives.
On this Day, I call on each one of us to speak out and stand up to racism wherever and whenever we see it happen. Let’s tackle racial hatred, taking inspiration from the proven ability of individuals to respect, protect and defend our rich diversity as one human family.