17-25 March 2007 European-wide Action Week Against Racism

EUROPEAN-WIDE ACTION WEEK AGAINST RACISM (17-25 March 2007) **
This year the slogan of Action Week Against Racism is ’All Different-All Equal´, as it is directly connected with the European Youth Campaign for Diversity, Human Rights and Participation “All Different, All Equal” of the Council of Europe. The Action Week takes place at local, national and international level.
'All Different - All Equal' is more than just a campaign slogan, it's a question: What does equal mean? Does it mean we all have equal rights? What about equal access, equal opportunities, equal chances?
In our beautiful world there are still people who suffer because they look, feel, act and believe differently than others, because social, cultural and economic backgrounds is different for each individual.  Generalization, prejudices and stereotypes within the personal or even public area lead to scapegoating, hatred, discrimination and racism. We are confronted with a gap between legislation and reality.
This campaign aims at showing that even though we are all different we need to fight for equal rights. Hopefully we can be part of a vivid movement contributing to peaceful inter-community relations by showing a lot of strength through constructive dialogues among cultures and religions. We have to take care that the worth of diversity doesn’t get lost in racism leading to exclusion, discrimination, prejudices and verbal or physical violence.

** PARTICIPATE IN A UNIQUE CAMPAIGN! **
Do you believe in the active struggle against racism? Do you plan to organize activities in your organization and community? Inform us about your activities and we can show that there is an enormous amount of people that believe in an intercultural open society. The variety and creativity of many different activities all over Europe make UNITED campaigns unique.

** UNITED CAN HELP YOU **
We can provide you attractive campaign materials (posters, postcards and stickers). Contact UNITED and order free of charge materials for your activities.
Make you activity visible by including it in our special List of Activities, which documents events and actions organized throughout Europe in the frame of this campaign. UNITED website is regularly up-dated with the latest information about activities planned.
Contact UNITED secretariat if you want to find a partner for your activities in your city or country. We might know about other NGOs in your country planning similar activities.
A media release about campaign activities will be sent out to all-important European press agencies, newspapers and media institutes. Help us to make an exciting media release and reach a great impact!
UNITED will produce a European report after the Action Week, including information about as many activities that took place as possible. Make sure your activity is included. Send us reports, newspaper articles in any languages, photographs. The report will be spread throughout Europe to more than 2500 groups and NGOs.

** 21 MARCH **
21 March was declared International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination by the General Asembly of the United Nations as a reaction to the murder of 70 anti-apartheid demonstrators in Sharpeville, South Africa, in 1960. During the annual European-wide Action Week Against Racism, which centres around 21 March, thousands of people engage themselves for tolerance, equal rights and celebrate the diversity of Europe. This year once again hundreds of activities such as intercultural festivals, cleaning off the walls racist slogans, multicultural football matches, etc will take place all around Europe, organised by a wide variety of organisations.

UNITED FOR INTERCULTURAL ACTION
Postbus 413, NL-1000 AK Amsterdam, Netherlands, www.unitedagainstracism.org
Tel: +31-20-6834778, Fax: +31-20-6834582, E-mail: info@unitedagainstracism.org