Every March 21, the International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination is celebrated to bring to our memory the efforts made to eliminate racial discrimination in the world.
The reason that March 21 was chosen is that this date commemorates the events of 1960 in Sharpeville. On this date, the police killed around 69 people who were demonstrating peacefully against the Apartheid law in South Africa. Apartheid was a system of racial segregation that was formally established in South Africa and Namibia and remained in force until 1992.
After this year, the world community was invited to increase efforts to eliminate racial discrimination, which to this day has not been completely eliminated. That is why it is crucial to continue making the population aware of these events and do everything possible to eliminate all discrimination.
Unfortunately, one of the places where discrimination is still present is in the workplace. Sometimes, co-workers or supervisors make jokes, comments or have discriminatory attitudes towards a person because of their race. Another way discrimination is present is by employers denying job opportunities or promotions to excellent candidates due to their race.
These discriminatory acts can have serious immediate consequences affecting the work environment or employment opportunities. But, in addition, these can have a profound impact on the lives of the victims, for example, damage to their emotional health, reduced performance at work, unemployment, difficulty performing daily activities, among others.
In the event that you or someone you know is experiencing discrimination, it is essential to know that you are not alone. If this situation occurs at work, the first step will be to notify your employer. However, if the employer does not take corrective action, or if it is the employer who has discriminated against you, you may sue to receive compensation. This compensation must consider all direct and indirect damages caused and will help ensure fair treatment in your work.
At Lara & Luna Law APC, we support you and fight for your rights. Our goal is for each worker to have a suitable work environment to work in peace, safety, and comfort. Do not hesitate to contact us if you require support.