WASHINGTON, March 21, 2021—World Bank Group President David Malpass issued the following statement on behalf of the Bank Group to mark today’s International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination.
“March 21 is observed annually to memorialize the day police in Sharpeville, South Africa opened fire and killed 69 people at a peaceful demonstration against apartheid in 1960. The day has been commemorated as Human Rights Day in South Africa and serves as a reminder to inform ourselves about racism and discrimination.
Today we reaffirm our dedication to eliminating racial discrimination and social injustice wherever we can – in our institution, our communities, and in the development programs we support. We also strongly condemn the rise in violence against ethnic and religious minorities around the globe.
All of us at the World Bank Group stand together in our commitment to the goal of racial equality, as individuals and as an institution, and to ending the scourge of racism.”
