Action Week Against Racism

Action Week Against Racism and for Equal Opportunity (AWAR) runs from March 21 to 31. Now in its 26th year, the theme is “Québec, terre d’accueil? Challenges and solutions for a racism-free society.”

A number of activities are being organized in all regions of Quebec, both virtual and in person, to reflect on and provide concrete solutions for achieving this goal. These include a symposium on March 26 and 27 on the theme: Quebec: First Nations and Inuit territory for millennia; more than 500 years of non-Aboriginal occupation and presence. Assessment and perspectives (in French only).

A round-table discussion on municipal policies is also being organized in Montreal on Sunday, March 23.  The program of activities is posted on the ACSS website, which invites everyone to fight racism and promote social justice (in French only).

International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination

This week was created to celebrate the International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination, proclaimed in 1966 by the United Nations. The first initiatives to mark this day date back to 1968 in Montreal. In 1999, a structure was put in place to coordinate the various activities surrounding this international day.

For Canada, this global event is an opportunity to reflect on attitudes and assumptions towards Aboriginal peoples, racialized communities and religious minorities. It’s an invitation to not lose sight of the goal of providing a safe environment and equitable access to resources to help everyone realize their potential and participate in society.

The United Nations celebrates the 60th anniversary of International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination (ICERD). The UN continues its ongoing #NONauracism campaign, inviting people to “Learn, Speak up, Act!” Discover various resources on the subject by visiting the website.