When is International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination?
International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination 2027 is on Sunday
Sunday, March 21, 2027
March 21 every year. That's in 155 days.
until International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination begins, in your time zone
The International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination is a UN day that remembers the people killed at Sharpeville, South Africa, in 1960 and calls on everyone to confront racism and racial discrimination wherever it occurs.
About International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination
The day commemorates March 21, 1960, when police in Sharpeville, a township in South Africa, opened fire on a peaceful crowd protesting the apartheid pass laws, which forced Black South Africans to carry documents controlling where they could live and work. According to the UN, 69 people were killed. The killings drew worldwide condemnation and became a turning point in international opposition to apartheid.
The UN General Assembly proclaimed March 21 as the International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination in resolution 2142 (XXI), adopted on October 26, 1966. In 1979 the Assembly added a call for member states to hold a week of solidarity with peoples struggling against racism and racial discrimination, beginning each year on March 21.
The day is linked to the International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination, adopted by the General Assembly on December 21, 1965, and ratified by the great majority of countries. Later milestones include the 2001 World Conference against Racism in Durban, South Africa, whose Declaration and Programme of Action remain the UN's main blueprint on the issue, and the International Decades for People of African Descent, the first running from 2015 to 2024 and the second from 2025 to 2034.
In South Africa, March 21 is Human Rights Day, a public holiday that remembers Sharpeville. Elsewhere, the UN marks the day with a commemorative meeting of the General Assembly and a campaign under the hashtag #FightRacism.
Sources: United Nations: International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination, General Assembly resolution 2142 (XXI) (1966), South African Government: Public holidays, South African History Online: Sharpeville Massacre, 21 March 1960. How we check dates.
How to mark International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination
- Read about the Sharpeville massacre and the wider campaign against apartheid pass laws from a museum, archive or history site.
- Look up the anti-discrimination laws where you live and how to report discrimination at work, in housing or in public services.
- Review your school's or workplace's policies on racial harassment, and suggest improvements through the proper channels.
- Read a book or watch a documentary by an author or filmmaker from a community that faces racial discrimination in your country.
- Speak up, safely and calmly, when you hear racist remarks, and support the person targeted.
International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination dates
| Year | Date |
|---|---|
| 2025 | Friday, March 21, 2025 |
| 2026 | Saturday, March 21, 2026 |
| 2027 | Sunday, March 21, 2027 |
| 2028 | Tuesday, March 21, 2028 |
| 2029 | Wednesday, March 21, 2029 |
| 2030 | Thursday, March 21, 2030 |
| 2031 | Friday, March 21, 2031 |
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Frequently asked questions
When is International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination 2027?
International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination 2027 is on Sunday, March 21, 2027. It falls on March 21 every year. In 2028, it is on Tuesday, March 21, 2028.
What happened at Sharpeville on March 21, 1960?
Police opened fire on a peaceful demonstration against apartheid pass laws in the South African township of Sharpeville, killing 69 people according to the UN. The UN chose the anniversary for this international day.
Is March 21 a holiday in South Africa?
Yes. South Africa observes March 21 as Human Rights Day, a public holiday that commemorates the Sharpeville massacre. The UN's international day is an observance, not a public holiday in most other countries.
Is International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination a public holiday?
No. International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination is an observance, not a public holiday, so schools, banks, government offices and most businesses keep their normal hours.