Zero Discrimination Day

Zero Discrimination Day is an annual day celebrated by the UN and other international organisations. The day aims to promote equality before the law and in practice throughout all of the member countries of the UN. 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.[1]

In February 2017, UNAIDS called on people to 'make some noise around zero discrimination, to speak up and prevent discrimination from standing in the way of achieving ambitions, goals and dreams.'[2]

The day is particularly noted by organisations like UNAIDS that combat discrimination against people living with HIV/AIDS. “HIV related stigma and discrimination is pervasive and exists in almost every part of the world including our Liberia", according to Dr. Ivan F. Camanor, Chairman of the National AIDS Commission of Liberia.[3] The UNDP also paid tribute in 2017 to LGBTI people with HIV/AIDS who face discrimination.[4]

Campaigners in India have used the occasion to speak out against laws that make discrimination against the LGBTI community more likely, especially Section 377 of the Indian Penal Code which criminalises homosexuality.[5]

In 2015, Armenian Americans in California held a 'die-in' on Zero Discrimination Day to remember the victims of the Armenian Genocide.[6]

References
  1. "Zero Discrimination Day to be celebrated 1 March 2014 | UNAIDS". www.unaids.org. Retrieved 2017-03-01.
  2. "UNAIDS urges everyone to make some noise for zero discrimination | UNAIDS". www.unaids.org. Retrieved 2017-03-01.
  3. Writer, Solomon Watkins, Contributing. "FrontPageAfrica Newspaper - Liberia Joins Global Community to Stand Up For Zero Discrimination". frontpageafricaonline.com. Retrieved 2017-03-01.
  4. "Do more than make some noise…". UNDP. Retrieved 2017-03-01.
  5. "Zero Discrimination Day: Heres why you should know about it and be a part". Retrieved 2017-03-01.
  6. Hairenik (2015-03-02). "Armenian Youth Stage 'Die-in' on 'Zero Discrimination Day'". The Armenian Weekly. Retrieved 2017-03-01.
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