Why March 21?

• The March 21 Campaign
• Racism. Stop It! National Video Competition
• What is racism?

March 21 is designated by the United Nations (UN) as the International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination. It’s a day observed all around the world to focus attention on the problems of racism and the need to promote racial harmony.

The UN made this designation in 1966 to mark a tragic event that took place on March 21, 1960 in Sharpeville, South Africa when 69 peaceful demonstrators were killed during a protest against apartheid.

Canada was one of the first countries to support the UN initiative and launched its first annual campaign against racial discrimination in 1989. In 1996, the Racism. Stop It! National Video Competition became a key event in that campaign.

The March 21 Campaign

The March 21 Campaign was initiated to heighten awareness to the harmful effects of racism on a national scale and to clearly demonstrate the commitment and leadership of the Government of Canada to foster respect, equality and diversity. For more than 15 years, the March 21 Campaign has mobilized youth across Canada to rise up and to take a stand against racism.

Racism. Stop It! National Video Competition

Every year, to mark the International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination, numerous activities aiming to raise public awareness on the issue of racism take place across Canada. The Racism. Stop It! National Video Competition is one of the means by which the Government leads the fight against racism and mobilizes thousands of youth across Canada to express their feelings about eliminating racism through video.

What is racism?

According to the United Nations Association in Canada, racism refers to a set of beliefs that asserts the superiority of one racial group over another (at the individual as well as the institutional level), as well as individuals or groups of people exercise power that abuses or disadvantages others on the basis of skin colour or racial or ethnic heritage. This can be both subtle and obvious, by doing things like unfair reporting in the media, jokes, name-calling, discrimination at work and even hate crimes.

As young people, you may have seen racism in your school and community. You can be a powerful voice against it: you can make a difference.