UN marks anti‑racism day
The United Nations observed the International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination on March 21, marking the 1960 Sharpeville massacre and calling for renewed global efforts against racism. Separately at the 70th Commission on the Status of Women, South Sudan’s UN representative said the country has strengthened national mechanisms for women and girls as part of post‑conflict recovery. (un.org, eyeradio.org)
The UN set this year’s theme as “Mobilizing political will: 60 years of commemorating the International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination” and the General Assembly will hold a commemorative meeting on 23 March at 10 a.m. ( un.org ) Secretary‑General António Guterres urged universal ratification and full implementation of the International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination (ICERD) in his message, calling for coordinated action by governments, institutions and businesses. ( un.org ) Regional bodies also issued statements for the day, with the European Union reaffirming a commitment to tackle racism’s structural dimensions in a formal press release on 20 March. ( consilium.europa.eu ) At CSW70 (9–19 March), member states adopted Agreed Conclusions by broad consensus aimed specifically at strengthening access to justice for women and girls worldwide, a core outcome of the session. ( unwomen.org ) South Sudan’s Permanent Representative, Ambassador Cecilia A.M. Adeng, told delegates her government has strengthened national mechanisms for women and girls and is committing to a minimum 35% representation of women in public institutions while prioritizing girls’ education and skills‑based economic programs. ( eyeradio.org, un.org ) Adeng framed those measures as part of South Sudan’s post‑conflict recovery strategy and appealed for sustained international partnerships to increase girls’ enrolment, retention and women’s economic participation. ( eyeradio.org, news.un.org )
