The United Nations proclaimed the International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination on 21 March back in 1979. This date commemorates the Sharpeville massacre of 1960, when South African police opened fire on peaceful demonstrators and killed 69 people in the township of Sharpeville. Around this memorial day, the International Weeks against Racism take place every year. Thousands of events and activities are organised, especially in Germany but also across Europe and worldwide, to raise awareness of racism and discrimination.
In Germany, the Foundation Against Racism coordinates and promotes the International Weeks against Racism. This year, the European Commission will also launch its first EU Anti-Racism Strategy 2026–2030 on 17 March in Brussels. The conference will kick off debates and actions to bring the strategy to life, present its key objectives, and explore concrete ways to strengthen anti-racism policies at EU and national level.
Participa City – a European game to learn about discrimination – is co-funded by the EU and contributes to racism prevention by sensitising multipliers and decision-makers to everyday and structural racism. As part of the International Weeks against Racism, the German partners in the Participa City project invite you to an online event on 17 March, 2–3:30 pm. During this session, they will:
- Present the Participa City project
- Share key findings from a European survey on racism and discrimination
- Introduce the game and how it can be used in educational settings
- Provide information about the planned train-the-trainer course
The four-day blended learning train-the-trainer course will start in April/May in Germany. Project partners in Sweden, France, Portugal and Bulgaria will also implement this training in their respective countries.
If you would like to take part, please send an email to info@ifak-goettingen.de to receive the link for the online event on 17 March, 2–3:30 pm. The event will be held in German.