Fighting everyday racism accelerates progress Kathmandu 20 March – “Fighting everyday racism” is the theme chosen this year to commemorate the International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination. In Nepal, this is a crucial day to reflect on the impact that racial discrimination has on the lives of all Nepalese. It is also an opportunity to commit to action to address and eliminate such hindering practices. “Fighting racism and discrimination should not be seen as a campaign of charity but one of social justice that is needed for the economic and social progress of Nepal,” said UN Resident Coordinator, Matthew Kahane. “Discriminating any group of people ignores a critical mass of human potential and closes doors to development.” Racism in Nepal particularly affects members of the Dalit and indigenous as well as refugees and other ethnic communities. Caste-based discrimination has been recognized as a critical problem worldwide, with particular impact in South Asia. Its causes and effects are deep-seated and need to be addressed in a comprehensive way, by governments, non-governmental organizations and communities. “Nepal has international and domestic legal obligations to take action to eliminate caste-based discrimination,” said UN Resident Coordinator Matthew Kahane. “But today, we would like to focus on the issue of everyday racism and on how we can all take action to address what should be considered a great challenge to all Nepalese, women and men, girls and boys, from all walks of life.” In villages, towns and cities, in the mountains and in the Terai, there are large numbers of Nepalese who suffer daily racial discrimination. The effect is devastating: loss of opportunities for education, health services, work and earning livelihoods, and access to community resources such as land and water. Schools can be a place, which facilitate positive awareness, interaction and exchange of cultural differences as a way to oppose discrimination. Learning environments free from racial discrimination can nurture equality and the sense of social solidarity. In the workplace, treating colleagues with respect and dignity and providing all with opportunities to perform and improve is the absolute minimum to be expected. “Today, is a day for all of us to stop and think about what we could do to help eliminate racial discrimination in our communities: in the schools, the workplaces, in the village and towns. Small actions may trigger big changes,” said Kahane. Posted on: 2006-03-20 09:41:22 (Server Time)