Although the world has made tremendous progress in both technology and social development, the shadow of racial discrimination continues to cast itself across every corner of the globe. Racial discrimination is not merely a thing of the past, but continues to manifest in new, complex, and difficult-to-detect forms that still impact the lives of millions of people.<\/p>\n\n
In 2025, we will mark the 60th anniversary of the International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination. This is a crucial opportunity for us to look back and assess how far the world has progressed and what gaps we still need to fill to ensure the future belongs to everyone, regardless of their skin color or ethnicity. This article will take you on an exploration of the true meaning of eliminating discrimination, which is not limited to legal dimensions or international obligations, but also encompasses cultural levels, beliefs, and actions in daily life, which are fundamental foundations for creating an equal society.<\/p>\n\n
Racial discrimination remains a deeply rooted problem in global society, stemming from the historical legacy of slavery, colonialism, and discriminatory policies of the past. This problem not only undermines the social structures of communities and blocks opportunities, but also destroys human dignity, equality, and justice, which are fundamental principles that every society should uphold. Furthermore, racial discrimination is a significant factor that hinders sustainable development, particularly Goal 10, which aims to reduce inequality within and between countries.<\/p>\n\n
In 2025, we will mark the 60th anniversary of the International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination<\/strong> (ICERD), which is one of the most important legally binding international agreements in the fight against racial discrimination. This convention emerged in the 1960s amid the civil rights movement, the collapse of apartheid systems, and decolonization, reflecting the efforts of countries around the world to work together to promote equality and human dignity.<\/p>\n\n “We will not stop until a world free from racial discrimination becomes reality Message from the UN Secretary-General on the International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination<\/strong> by Mr. Ant\u00f3nio Guterres, UN Secretary-General, calling on all countries to ratify and fully implement the Convention, while inviting business leaders, civil society, and all people to stand together against racism in all its forms and take concrete action to make the Convention effective. This is our shared responsibility. Ultimately, eliminating racial discrimination is not merely about achieving legal or policy goals, but about cultural and consciousness transformation that will lead to a society where everyone can live together peacefully and equally. This struggle is not only the duty of governments or international organizations, but the shared responsibility of all sectors of global society to create a future free from discrimination and hatred.<\/p>\n\n However, while the Convention plays an important role in setting standards and guidelines for member states, implementation remains a challenge in many regions, especially in the current era where hatred is increasing due to rising economic and social inequality. Racial discrimination has adapted new forms and methods within the context of the digital world, driven by algorithms that create conflict and division to increase engagement on online platforms, particularly affecting vulnerable groups such as women and girls with disabilities<\/strong> who face multiple pressures and numerous barriers to living with dignity and equality. <\/p>\n\n In every region, women and girls with disabilities are the most bullied or harassed online<\/strong> discriminated against and overlooked, excluded and oppressed, undervalued and undermined<\/strong> when facing intersectional oppression from both gender and disability dimensions. Volker T\u00fcrk, UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, emphasized that the international community is failing to uphold the fundamental principles of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, which clearly affirms that all human beings are born equal. This failure reflects the gap between legal ideals and actual practice. Furthermore, the vulnerable situation of women and girls with disabilities, as Ms. Heba Hagrass stated, “They are underrepresented in education and employment, and are at high risk of violence and abuse, particularly forced sterilization, domestic violence, and sexual exploitation,”<\/strong> reflects a serious failure to protect this vulnerable group.<\/p>\n\n In the age of technology and digital advancement, new challenging issues have added complexity to this situation. Cyberbullying and unequal access to assistive technology have become significant barriers to accessing basic rights for people with disabilities who use online spaces as channels for social participation and work. Meanwhile, unequal access to assistive technology is a significant barrier to improving quality of life, requiring governments worldwide to implement more proactive measures to address these issues. Neglecting this issue is not only a violation of human rights, but also a loss of important economic and social opportunities from not fully utilizing the potential of this population group.<\/p>\n\n Creating a society that respects the rights and dignity of people with disabilities is not only the responsibility of governments or international organizations, but a shared mission of all sectors of society. When we recognize that disability is merely part of human diversity, we can move toward a society where everyone has value and receives equal opportunities.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n Strategy and International Cooperation Coordination Division<\/em> References<\/strong><\/strong><\/p>\n\n United Nations. (2025). Women, girls bear brunt of cyberbullying against persons with disabilities.<\/em> Retrieved from https:\/\/news.un.org\/en\/story\/2025\/03\/1160981<\/a> <\/p>\n\n United Nations. (2025). Secretary-General’s message on the International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination.<\/em> Retrieved from https:\/\/www.un.org\/sg\/en\/content\/sg\/statement\/2025-03-21\/secretary-generals-message-the-international-day-for-the-elimination-of-racial-discrimination-scroll-down-for-french-version<\/a> <\/p>\n\n