Zero Discrimination Day is an observance marked annually on March 1 by United Nations among other international organisations to promote equality and fairness before the law . The day was first launched and celebrated on March 1, 2014 by UNAIDS to fight the systemic and cultural discrimination against people with HIV/AIDS.
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KEY HIGHLIGHTS
- UNAIDS launched and first celebrated the annual day to promote awareness about discrimination against people with HIV/AIDS.
- “Remove laws that harm, create laws that empower,” is the theme this year under which UNAIDS aims to address the urgent need for action against discriminatory laws .
- Many countries have flawed systems of justice that have led to a history of exclusion of a few communities from essential services, disenfranchisement and marginalisation.
Zero Discrimination Day is celebrated on March 1 every year most notably by United Nations among other international organisations. The observance is aimed at promoting equality and fairness, both before the law and in practice.
Zero Discrimination Day
Zero Discrimination Day 2022 Theme
Remove laws that harm, create laws that empower,” is the powerful theme under which UNAIDS aims to address the urgent need for action against discriminatory laws. The theme for 2021 was “Zero Discrimination against Women and Girls.”
Zero Discrimination Day theme this year will be “Remove laws that harm, create laws that empower”, UNAIDS is highlighting the urgency to end discriminatory laws.
In many countries, there are regulations which are still discriminatory against women or children. For example there are laws that don’t give the same rights of marriage, voting to women which they give to men. Same way rights given to heterosexual are not given to LGBT community. Such laws are discriminatory which doesn’t human rights and fundamental freedoms.
Zero Discrimination Day: History
The day was launched and first celebrated on March 1, 2014 by UNAIDS, the organisation that has championed the cause of dismantling systems of oppression against people with HIV/AIDS in UN member countries. It started out as a campaign by the same name in December 2013. Then-Executive Director Michel Sidibé launched the day with a major event in Beijing. Over 30 business leaders pledged to eliminate workplace discrimination.
UNAIDS said, “Make some noise around zero discrimination, to speak up and prevent discrimination from standing in the way of achieving ambitions, goals and dreams.”
Zero Discrimination Day: Significance
Many countries have flawed systems of justice and legal codes that have led to the historical exclusion of a few communities or sects of people from essential services, disenfranchisement and marginalisation. This discrimination pertains to faith, sexual orientation, income level, gender and race of a person.
Through Zero Discrimination Day and the movement against such treatment of people, the UNAIDS seeks to promote awareness about prejudicial laws and policies that deprive people of dignity, wealth and power through marginalisation.
Zero Discrimination Day Quotes
“Our ability to reach unity in diversity will be the beauty and the test of our civilization.” — Mahatama Gandhi
“Darkness cannot drive out darkness; only light can do that. Hate cannot drive out hate; only love can do that.” —Martin Luther King, Jr.
“Education, awareness and prevention are the key, but stigmatisation and exclusion from family is what makes people suffer most.” — Ralph Fiennes
“Prejudice is a burden that confuses the past, threatens the future, and renders the present inaccessible.” — Maya Angelou
“To bring about change, you must not be afraid to take the first step. We will fail when we fail to try” — Rosa Parks
“It is not our differences that divide us. It is our inability to recognize, accept, and celebrate those differences.” — Audre Lorde