Today, the 1st of March 2020 is the international day celebrating Zero Discrimination Day in the world. Discrimination happens in different forms to individuals, the effect of discrimination is very wide as it can cause people to be sad, angry, frustrated, have low self esteem and even commit suicide.
This day is celebrated to give everyone the right to live the life they want without any discrimination from anyone. UNAIDS, a UN initiative on human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) and acquired immune deficiency syndrome (AIDS) launched its Zero Discrimination Campaign on World AIDS Day in December 2013. The UN first celebrated Zero Discrimination Day on March 1st, 2014.
A report on HIV-related discrimination against women and girls reports that around 6000 young women between the ages of 15 and 24 become diagnosed with HIV each week, that is 860 a day.
The video above is by the Executive Director of UNAIDS Winnie Byanyima. Who spoke against the discrimination against women and girls who has HIV/AIDS. She also spoke about how this is a personal experience for her as she has lost family members to the disease.
This day is also a day to remind everyone that their lives matter and counts. There is always one form of discrimination or another. Discrimination just doesn’t just happen to women and girls alone, they happen to almost everyone. The recent form of discrimination happening in the world right now is against the people from china because of the coronavirus that originated from their country.
There are different forms of discrimination, discrimination is not just limited to women and girls who have HIV/AIDS they can happen to people based on gender, race, height, beauty standards, complexion, wealth, health, Mental health, weight, sexuality, age, ethnicity, beliefs profession, etc.
Self-worth is the first step to stop discrimination, we should love and appreciate ourselves and turn deaf ears to what anybody else says to bring us down. We as individuals should learn to love everyone as we would love ourselves. Then maybe this world will be a safer place for us all.
Putting other people in our shoes, (that is asking this question: how I will feel if someone does what I am about to do to them, to me will I be happy about it?). Thinking about other people can, even if it is a little bit reduce, the evil in this world. Before we act, we should think about how the other person will feel before we act or speak. I am not saying we should change who we are but a little bit of kindness doesn’t hurt.
Hiding behind a phone or a screen is the most popular means used nowadays to discriminate against other people.
The form of discrimination against race doesn’t just happen between one race to another, it can also happen between people of the same race. The discrimination against people with pale skin is so rampant to the extent that these group of people tans their skin regularly to feel confident and pretty.
The discrimination against really dark-skinned people also leads them to go for lightening product as they believe that people with lighter skin gets more recognition in the society and enjoys more benefits because of the color of their skin.
Women in society are also discriminated against. That is one of the reasons why international women’s day is celebrated to create equality for women everywhere they go. In Africa, a female child is always discriminated against. She is seen as a tool for reproduction or a housekeeper whose job is to take care of the kids and please the husband in the bedroom. This discrimination did not just start,it has been existing since the beginning of time. That is why we have to put a stop to this and regard all children as equal.
If we think of what is under the skin, think of everyone as equals who bleed the same way, hurts the same way, grow the same way, and even takes dumps the same way. Maybe the world will be a safer and greater place for everyone. But what do I know?
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