Monday, 21 March 2011
international Day against racial discrimination
The 21st March is the International Day against Racial Discrimination. The Council of Europe is determined to continue its work in this area through all the means at its disposal and aims to prevent anyone from being a victim of discrimination or hate on the basis of skin colour, gender, language, religion, origin.
In today’s Europe, full of differences, we must not forget the fundamental principle- that every human is born free and equal in dignity and right. Now, more that ever we need to face the challenge of changes on the society, to fight against all forms of racism and xenophobia- stated Mr. Ahmet Davutoğlu, Chair of the Committee of Minister of the Council of Europe.
Mr Thomas Hammarberg, Commissioner for Human Rights in the Council of Europe , also spoke on the discrimination as a great problem for Europe.
He underlined that elimination of discrimination will make our Continent a better place for living and that the national structures for equality are key actors in this persistence and should be supported by the political leaders.
The General Assembly of UN, proclaimed the 21st March as International Day against Racial Discrimination in 1966, calling on the international community to redouble its efforts to eliminate all forms of racial discrimination.