General Assembly: 74th plenary meeting, 80th session

Marking Anti-Racial Discrimination Day, Senior Officials in General Assembly Warn Racism Being Normalized, Call for Urgent Action

• Categories: Meetings & Events / General Assembly
• Video Length: 02:26:58
• Production Date: 23 March 2026
• Asset Language: English
• Personal Subject: ANTONIO GUTERRES; ANNALENA BAERBOCK
• Corporate Name: GENERAL ASSEMBLY
• Subject Topical: INTERNATIONAL PEACE AND SECURITY; RACIAL DISCRIMINATION; RACISM; VIOLENCE; INTERNATIONAL DAYS; SOCIAL CHANGE; SOCIAL INTEGRATION; SOCIAL JUSTICE; DISCRIMINATION; SPEAKERS; XENOPHOBIA
• MAMS Id: 3547858
• Parent Id: 3545811
• Alternate Title: MTG GA 80 SESSION 74 PLENARY23 MAR 2026

Description

Racism — from its deadly historical manifestations to its growing normalization on digital platforms and in political discourse — continues to divide societies and dehumanize communities worldwide, senior United Nations officials told the General Assembly today, underscoring the need for urgent, collective action to uphold equality, justice and human rights for all. 

Today’s meeting was held to mark the International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination, observed annually on 21 March. The Day was proclaimed by the United Nations in 1966 to commemorate the 1960 killing of 69 peaceful protesters in Sharpeville, South Africa — a turning point in the fight against apartheid — and follows the 1965 adoption of the International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination.

Related Sites and Documents

UN Meetings Coverage

Convocation Letter from the President of the General Assembly