International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination – National virtual event for the Defence Team
March 17, 2022 - Defence Stories
On March 21, the Department will be hosting a national virtual event featuring senior leadership, the local Defence Visible Minority Advisory Groups and guest speaker Edmund Chien. All Defence Team members are encouraged to attend.
Date: March 21, 2022
Time: 1030 EDT
Location: Virtual (Microsoft TEAMS)
About this day
Guided by the International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination (you are now leaving the Government of Canada website), the International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination (IDERD) recognizes that injustice and prejudice fuelled by racial discrimination continue to take place every day. Observed annually on March 21, it commemorates the day police in Sharpeville, South Africa, opened fire and killed 69 people at a peaceful demonstration against apartheid "pass laws" in 1960.
The IDERD was first established by the United Nations (UN) in 1966. Canada was one of the first countries to support the UN’s initiative and launched its first annual campaign against racial discrimination in 1989. The Department of National Defence (DND) and the Canadian Armed Forces (CAF) observe IDERD annually as a way to address racism and further advocate for inclusion and respect.
The Defence Team is commemorating 2022 IDERD under the theme "From Safe Spaces to Brave Spaces".
Agenda
Land acknowledgement and opening remarks by the Defence Champion for Visible Minorities
Messages from senior leadership
Guest Speaker: Edmund Chien
Defence Visible Minorities Advisory Groups (DVMAGs) Cross-Country Virtual Tour:
- DVMAG Edmonton
- DVMAG Cold Lake
- DVMAG Kingston—Royal Military College
- DVMAG National Co-Chairs
Closing remarks