International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination

Harmony Week is the celebration that recognises our diversity and brings together Australians from all different backgrounds. It's important to celebrate diversity and the successes of our multicultural society. However, it is also important to focus on the urgency of combatting racism wherever and whenever it arises. 

The Australian Human Rights Commission has developed fact sheets and a lesson plan about the International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination (IDERD) - which falls on 21 March - to demonstrate how the idea of 'harmony' hides structural and systemic racism.

The fact sheets and lesson plan are designed to support individual and organisational conversations about the importance of keeping the focus of IDERD on ending all forms of racial discrimination and injustice.

The schools’ fact sheet and lesson plan have been written for students in Years 9 and 10. This content has been aligned to outcomes in the Australian Curriculum.

The general and translated factsheets have been written for an older audience and are suitable for workplaces, community centres and other institutions.

The fact sheets describe how ‘Harmony Week’ is an example of the way language can be used to sweep the harms of racism under the rug. This doesn’t help people experiencing racism. Instead, it reinforces inequality and maintains the status quo.

In contrast, having open discussions about racism demonstrates a commitment to tackling racism when it occurs and preventing it in the future. Discussing racism honestly and openly helps develop more advanced racial awareness and provides the space to plan and act for change.

The IDERD fact sheet has also been translated into a range of different languages.

Host an IDERD event

On IDERD each year, you can also organise an event at your school or workplace to encourage the reflection and learning called for on this day. Hosting an IDERD event will help you and your peers to:

• Learn about racism and anti-racism (if you’re hosting an event at your workplace, you can also conduct a 'cultural temperature check' to learn more about the levels of cultural inclusion and safety within your organisation)
• Acknowledge and call out racism
• Centre the voices of people who are negatively impacted by racism
• Take action

You can use our IDERD fact sheets as conversation starters at the events you organise or attend.  

We would love to hear from you if you’ve used these resources at your school or workplace. Email us at antiracismsecretariat@humanrights.gov.au to share your feedback.

For more anti-racism resources, please visit the Commission’s ‘Racism. It Stops with Me’ resource hub.

Downloads

Fact sheet – General

Fact sheet – For schools

Lesson Plan – For Years 9 and 10

Translations

While information on the Australian Human Rights Commission's website is mainly presented in English, the IDERD Fact sheet resource has been translated into a range of different languages:

Arabic

Burmese

Dari

Simplified Chinese

Traditional Chinese

Vietnamese