23 March 2026 16:24 UTC · UN Secretary-General · UN SG Press Release · Source · Email X Link

UN Secretary-General says end racism and discrimination

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António Guterres calls to end racism and racial discrimination
Urges urgent, concrete action across governments, businesses and the UN

TL;DR

UN Secretary-General António Guterres recalls the 1960 Sharpeville massacre and honors those who opposed racism.
He says racism violates human rights, persists in institutions, and fuels inequalities, violence and extremist acts.
He notes digital platforms and political discourse are mainstreaming racism and hate speech.
He urges governments, businesses, institutions, civil society and the UN to take urgent, concrete measures, including ratifying the International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination.

Original text

Secretary-General Statements and Messages Following are UN Secretary-General António Guterres’ remarks at the General Assembly event marking the International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination, in New York today: Today, we recall the Sharpeville massacre of 1960, when police fired indiscriminately into a crowd peacefully protesting the evils of apartheid — killing 69 people. We honour all those who have stood against racism and racial discrimination around the globe. And we renew our commitment to work for justice and equality. Racial discrimination is a violation of human rights and human dignity. It is a learned behaviour that is both pervasive and deeply destructive. It has claimed countless lives and caused monumental suffering throughout history. It should have no place in our world, but it rears its head in schools, workplaces and countless everyday interactions. Racism harms us all. It persists in the damaging consequences of enslavement, colonialism and oppression. It feeds many of the problems we face today — including economic, social and political inequalities. Discriminatory policies and practices. And outright conflicts. And many of the solutions to confront it are being weakened as some Governments dismantle anti-racist policies and practices and leaders try to rewrite history. At the same time, digital tools and technologies are inundating us with hate speech — perpetuating lies and harmful stereotypes that often spill over into real-world violence and abuse. Racism powers the repugnant acts of white supremacists and other extremist groups. It sows distrust, divides communities and dehumanizes people. It stigmatizes Africans and people of African descent — as well as Asians and people of Asian descent. And it fuels the oppression of a wide range of ethnic, religious, linguistic and national minorities, including Indigenous Peoples. I am deeply troubled by how racism and xenophobia are being mainstreamed on digital platforms and in political discourse. What might begin with dog whistles — coded messages meant to embolden other bigots — can quickly turn into full-throated hate speech. We know where this road leads: To further injustice, violence and even worse. The remedy is solidarity. Governments, institutions, businesses and communities must work together to safeguard the dignity, justice, equality and rights of every person. That means taking urgent and concrete steps to end racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance — including within the United Nations. I am determined to tackle racism in every form — from harmful interpersonal interactions to deeply ingrained institutional and systemic biases. I am grateful to our Anti-Racism Office and my Special Adviser for Addressing Racism in the Workplace, Mojankunyane Gumbi, for spearheading this work at the Secretariat, and I thank the many teams and colleagues advancing these efforts throughout the UN system. For the private sector, fighting racism and racial discrimination includes ensuring that their supply chains, workplaces, products and services respect the UN Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights. For Member States, it includes universal ratification and full implementation of the International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination. We must utilize our many tools and instruments to fight racism and discrimination so that equality and a truly shared humanity become a lived reality for all. We must also mobilize more support for the critical work of civil society, whose front-line efforts continue to remind us of our shared responsibility to end racism. Today, and every day, let’s take a stand. Let’s fight for the dignity, rights and belonging of everyone. And together, let us vow to erase the stain of racism from our world. Thank you.

UN Secretary-General says end racism and discrimination

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