Racism and Discrimination: Obstacles to Development

High-Level Panel Discussion
21 March 2007, 13:00-15:00
Palais des Nations room XXI
Geneva , Switzerland
Programme

21 March 2007 Brochure

Racism and Discrimination: Obstacles to Development

"Racist practices hurt their victims, but they also limit the promise of entire societies where they are tolerated. They prevent individuals from realizing their potential and stop them from contributing fully to national progress."
Ban Ki-moon
United Nations Secretary-General

"Racism, Discrimination and poverty form a vicious cycle."
Louise Arbour
United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights

Background of 21 March

The International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination is observed annually on 21 March with activities led by the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights in Geneva , New York and at field-presences. This year's theme is: "Racism and Discrimination: Obstacles to Development."

On 21 March 1960, police opened fire and killed 69 people at a peaceful demonstration in Sharpeville , South Africa , against the apartheid "pass laws". In 1966, the General Assembly proclaimed 21 March as International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination to commemorate the Sharpeville tragedy (resolution 2142 (XXI) of 26 October 1966). 21 March has since then served not only to remind the international community of the dire consequences of racism, but also to recall our obligation and determination to combat racial discrimination.

Racism and Discrimination: Obstacles to Development

Development is a comprehensive economic, social, cultural and political process that aims at constantly improving the well-being of the entire population on the basis of everyone's active, free and meaningful participation and the fair distribution of the available resources. Racism and other forms of discrimination are not only human rights violations but also major obstacles to achieving development.

21 March 2007

The Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights is organizing a high-level panel discussion on 21 March 2007 from 13:00 to 15:00 at the Palais des Nations in Geneva, room XXI to discuss this year's theme: "Racism and Discrimination: Obstacles to Development."

The high-level panel discussion will touch on a number of issues directly linked to this year's theme, notably, the inter-relationships between racism and other forms of discrimination, development, poverty, economic growth, good governance and conflicts.

The panelists participating in the high-level panel discussion are:

Mr. Sergei A. Ordzhonikidze, Director General of the United Nations Office at Geneva
Ms. Louise Arbour, High Commissioner for Human Rights
Ambassador Luis Alfonso de Alba, President of the Human Rights Council
Ambassador Ibrahim Salama, Chairperson of the Working Group on the Right to Development
Professor Vitit Muntarbhorn, Chairperson of the Coordination Committee of Special Procedures, Special Rapporteur on the Situation of Human Rights in the Democratic People's Republic of Korea
Mr. Doudou Diène, Special Rapporteur on Contemporary Forms of Racism, Racial Discrimination, Xenophobia and Related Intolerance
Ms. Gay McDougall, Independent Expert on Minority Issues
Yves Francis Odia Ndongo, Student at the Graduate Institute of Development Studies in Geneva, winner of the competition organized by OHCHR and the Graduate Institute of Development Studies in Geneva for essays and papers on this year's theme "Racism and Discrimination: Obstacles to Development"
Ambassador Juan Martabit, Chairperson of the Inter-Governmental Working Group on the Effective Implementation of the Durban Declaration and Programme of Action, will be the moderator of the panel discussion.

The high-level panel discussion is an open meeting. All are welcome to attend.