Zero Discrimination Day 2022 and Its Significance

Zero Discrimination Day underlines how people can become enlightened about and uphold inclusion, compassion, peace, and, above all, a movement for change. It is an opportunity to celebrate everyone’s right to live a full and productive life with solemnity – no matter what they look like, where they come from, or whom they love.

On Zero Discrimination Day this year, under the theme “Remove laws that harm, create laws that empower”, UNAIDS is highlighting the urgent need to act against discriminatory laws.

The day was launched and first celebrated on March 1, 2014, by UNAIDS, the organization that has championed the cause of dismantling systems of domination against people with HIV/AIDS in UN member countries. It started out as a campaign by the same name in December 2013. Then-Executive Director Michel Sidibé launched the day with a major event in Beijing. Over 30 business leaders pledged to eliminate workplace discrimination.

Many countries have laws against discrimination but it's still a problem in all stratum of society in every country in the world. Many countries have and still use discrimination as a way of governing.

Several countries have defective systems of justice and legal codes that have led to the historical segregation of a few communities or sects of people from indispensable services, disenfranchisement, and marginalization. This discrimination relates to faith, sexual orientation, income level, gender, and race of a person.

The culmination of inequality entails transformative change. Exertions must be intensified to eliminate severe poverty and hunger and it is obligatory to invest more in health, education, social protection, and decent jobs. Governments must eradicate biased laws, policies, and practices to guarantee equal opportunities and diminish disparities.