Have you heard stories of people getting beat up because of their race or their sexuality? Have you heard stories about girls not being educated solely on the basis that they are girls? People face abuse and discrimination every day in one way or another and for one reason or another.
March 1st is Zero Discrimination Day. It is a worldwide event to celebrate everyone’s rights regardless of their gender, race, sexuality, nationality, ethnicity, skin color etc. This day is also about raising your voice for the right to live life with dignity, despite one's choices, beliefs, profession, education, disability, or even illness.
The day was first celebrated on March 1, 2014, and was launched by UNAIDS Executive Director Michel Sidibé on 27 February of that year with a major event in Beijing.
Zero Discrimination Day also has themes every year and this year’s theme was “Remove laws that harm, create laws that empower”
This year’s theme aims to shed light on how some countries have laws that create prejudice and discriminate against people.
These discriminatory laws result in people and communities being excluded from receiving essential services or making restrictions to their way of life because of what they are or identify as, or who they love. By letting these laws remain we are denying people’s human rights and fundamental freedom.
This day plays a very significant role in creating awareness and giving voice to people all over the world. So it is important to make people aware of the fact there are laws that also create prejudice instead of protecting its people.
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