The United Nations General Assembly created the International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination in 1966, 6 years after police killed 69 peaceful apartheid protestors in South Africa. The designation was—and still is—a call-out to the world to mobilize against racism and discrimination.
Since this time, many countries around the world have been working to abolish racist laws and practices. Guided by the International Convention on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination, the global community has been building a framework for fighting racism.
There are too many people, communities, and societies that continue to suffer from the injustice and stigma of racism. More recently, this has been expressed through the unjust stigmatization of Asian communities in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic. While we know that viruses have no race or nationalities, some have used this crisis as an attempt to blame and further marginalize a particular ethnic group. Moreover, this past year has laid bare through tragedy some of the foundational inequities of our systems. The tragic murder of George Floyd rightfully captured the world’s attention and sparked a renewed conversation around anti-Black racism. We have also witnessed the ugly manifestations of systemic racism here in Canada.
These are just some reasons why the struggle against racial discrimination remains a central element in UNESCO’s work.
Giving space to those doing the work
The Canadian Commission for UNESCO works actively to fight racism and discrimination in all forms. Sometimes, that means giving space and voice to organizations and community members that have been active in these spaces and engaging with community on a day to day basis. This year, we want to mark March 21 by amplifying the voices of organizations across the country that are doing their part to ensure an inclusive and anti-racist world for us all. In the section below, we would like to introduce you to some organizations and individuals helping to lead this fight across Canada:
- The Canadian Arab Institute is a national non-partisan organization that focuses on issues and interests of the Canadian Arab community through research, policy, programming and community engagement. CAI celebrates and encourages Arab Canadians' participation in all social, political, cultural and economic aspects of Canadian society.
- DYLOTT is a leadership incubator that delivers a variety of youth programs intentionally designed to ensure young Black leaders can be part of Canada’s presence abroad, whether that be in a government, NGO, or business context. In doing so, they address barriers to social inclusion in employment, education and the broader social context.
- The Groupe d’entraide contre le racisme envers les Asiatiques du Québec was created following a series of racist incidents against the Asian community in Quebec and Canada, linked to COVID-19. This group of dedicated volunteers work to shed light on issues facing the Asian community in Quebec and Canada by providing tools for allies and a safe space for community members to share their stories.
- Ricardo Lamour, also known by his stage name Emrical, is a singer-songwriter, actor and social entrepreneur. Ricardo has been instrumental in advocating for social change, and an end to systemic and anti-black racism in Quebec and across Canada using art as a powerful tool to bring about change.
Finally, we must acknowledge that the work of anti-racism that takes place on this land is not completed in isolation. Indigenous Peoples from coast to coast to coast have carved a path for other groups, while fighting colonial systems and structures on their traditional lands. We must all be mindful of pathways to decolonization and reconciliation with Indigenous Peoples, as outlined in the Calls to Action of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission.
Campaigning for improvement
Sadly, racism is not a novel concept, here in Canada or abroad. While the way in which it is expressed can look different, there are some simple solutions we can all take to support those targeted by racial discrimination:
- Acknowledge: Listen to people who are affected.
- Challenge: Speak up—whether at work, at school, on public transportation, or with friends and family.
- Support: Be an ally. This means asking how you can use your position of privilege to advocate on someone’s behalf—not by deciding anything for them, but by listening and supporting.
Be an ally – every day of the year. Listen, challenge, and join the fight to end racism and discrimination.
For further reading
1) Coalition of Inclusive Municipalities toolkits:
- LGBTQ2+ Inclusiveness
- Reconciliation with Indigenous Peoples: A Holistic Approach
- Welcoming Immigrants and Refugees to Canada
2) Anti-racism in action: anti-racism work must involve people from all racial backgrounds, both so the work is more effective, and more importantly, to lessen the burden on affected communities in fighting these difficult battles. Below are some resources to access that cover what it means to actively take part in anti-racism:
i. Anti-Racist Allyship Starter Pack: Developed by Tatum Dorrell, Matt Herndon and Jourdan Dorrell, this open access Google Document is a great place to start, and includes subsections that highlight articles, compilations, books, TV and film, podcasts, noteworthy authors and more! It was developed in the United States and tailors more specifically to the American context, but most if not all resources are adaptable to Canada’s context as well.
ii. Supporting Racial Justice: This link covers everything from systemic racism to resources in education, and everything in between. Sub sections include:
- Systemic Racism Explained
- Anti-Racism for Beginners
- Black History Reading List
- More anti-racism resources, including on parenting and COVID-19
iii. Canadian-developed resources:
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Diversity
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Racism and discrimination
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Inclusion