The UN proclamation of March 21as the International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination calls on all people, communities and nations to respect people as human beings and not to judge people according to color, caste, creed or community.
The inhuman ‘Pass Laws Act of 1952 in South Africa required the black South Africans over the age of 16 to carry a pass book as identity and internal passport. It was to contain more detailed information than a normal passport. It was meant to segregate the black people from the ‘noble white’ race.
On March 21, 1960, the police opened fire on people demonstrating against the Pass Laws Act and 69 people were killed. Hence, the UN Assembly decided to mark March 21 as the day to call on all people to respect people as human beings and to fight against the cancer of discrimination.