What is the Human Right to Freedom from Racial Discrimination?
Every woman, man, youth and child has the human right to freedom from discrimination based on race, color, descent, or national or ethnic origin, and to other fundamental human rights dependent upon realization of the human right to freedom from racial discrimination. These human rights are explicitly set out in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, the International Covenants, the Convention on the Rights of the Child and other widely adhered to international human rights treaties and Declarations — powerful tools that must be put to use in efforts to eliminate all forms of racial discrimination. The Human Rights at Issue The human right to freedom from racial discrimination entitles every woman, man, youth and child to fundamental human rights including: The human right to freedom from any distinction, exclusion, restriction or preference based on race, colour, national or ethnic origin, language, or any other status, which has the purpose or effect of impairing the enjoyment o