Ms Kyung-wha Kang, Deputy High Commissioner for Human Rights

High-Level Panel Discussion
19 March 2009, 13:15 to 15:00
Palais des Nations room XXI
Geneva , Switzerland
Programme

Commemoration of the International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination, March 19, 2009

On the 21st of March, 1966 police opened fire and killed 69 people at a peaceful demonstration against the apartheid “pass laws” in Sharpeville , South Africa . The “pass laws” required all black South Africans to carry identity documents when moving outside designated areas known as “homelands.” In 1966 the United Nations General Assembly proclaimed March 21st as the International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination.

This year the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights is marking the event with a high-level panel discussion tomorrow, Thursday, March 19 from 13:15-15:00 in Room XXI at the Palais des Nations.

The theme of the event is 'United against Racism: Dignity and Justice for All.'

A number of top UN officials and other dignitaries will participate in the discussion:

* Mr Sergei Ordzhonikidze, the Director-General of the United Nations Office

* HE Mr Martin Ihoeghian Uhomoibhi, President of the Human Rights Council, Permanent Representative of Nigeria

* Ms Kyung-wha Kang, Deputy High Commissioner for Human Rights

* Mr Githu Muigai, Special Rapporteur on Contemporary Forms of Racism, Racial Discrimination, Xenophobia and Related Intolerance

* Ms Gulnara Shahinian, Special Rapporteur on Contemporary Forms of Slavery, including its Causes and Consequences

* Mr Reine Alapini Gansou, Special Rapporteur on Human Rights Defenders in Africa , African Commission on Human and Peoples' Rights,

* Ms Rhadys Polanco, Judge, Inter-American Court of Human Rights

The moderator will be H.E. Bente Angell-Hansen, the Permanent Representative of Norway to the UN.