The UN Commission on Human Rigts held a special meeting in the Council Chamber of the Palais des Nations at Geneva to observe the International Day for the Ellimination of Racial Discrimination. In 1967, the General Assembly decided to commemorate this day which marks the anniversary of the tragic shootings at Sharpeville in the republic of South Africa where many peaceful demonstrators met with death. Present at the special meeting, together with the members of the Commission, where Mr. Vittorio Winspeare Guicciardi, Under-Secretary-General and Director-General of the UN Office at Geneva, Mr. F. Bradford Morse, Under-Secretary-General for Political and General Assembly Affairs, representatives of the specialized agencies, non-governmental organizations, Heads of Missions accredited to the Office of the UN at Geneva and representatives of the press. Statements were made by Mr. Radha Krishna Rampuhul (Mauritius), Chairman of the Human Rights Commission, Mr. F. Bradford Morse, and the Representatives of Bulgaria, Ecuador, India, Senegal and the United Kingdom.
A general view of the special meeting.

The Security Council, in the final day of its meetings in Panama City, observed this morning the International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination. In 1966, the General Assembly proclaimed the International Day, and chose the date of 21 March to commemorate the incident at Sharpeville, South Africa, in 1960 when 69 peaceful African demonstrators against laws were shot and killed by the South African police. Statements marking the occasion were made by the Chairman of the Special Committe on Apartheid, Edwin Ogebe Ogbu (Nigeria); by Secretary-General Kurt Waldheim; by the President of the Council, Aquilino E. Boyd (Panama); and by the representatives of the Soviet-Union and Kenya.
Edwin Ogebe Ogbu (Nigeria), Chairman of the Special Committee on Apartheid, addressing the Council.

The Special Committee against Apartheid held a special solemn meeting this morning in observance of the International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination. All Permanent Missions had been invited to attend the meeting, along with representatives of non-Member States, the specialized agencies and other organizations in the UN family, and the two Southern African movements - the African National Congress of South Africa (ANC) and the Panafricanist Congress of Azania (PAC). The General-Assembly decided in 1966 to proclaim the International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination in order to commemorate the incident at Sharpeville, South Africa, on 21 March 1960 in which 69 demonstrators against pass laws under the apartheid system were shot killed and 180 others wounded.
Davis Siheko (left), representative of PAC, making a statement. At right is Thami Mhlambiso, representative of the ANC.

The Special Committee against Apartheid held a special solemn meeting this morning in observance of the International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination. All Permanent Missions had been invited to attend the meeting, along with representatives of non-Member States, the specialized agencies and other organizations in the UN family, and the two Southern African movements - the African National Congress of South Africa (ANC) and the Panafricanist Congress of Azania (PAC). The General-Assembly decided in 1966 to proclaim the International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination in order to commemorate the incident at Sharpeville, South Africa, on 21 March 1960 in which 69 demonstrators against pass laws under the apartheid system were shot killed and 180 others wounded.
Iqbal Akhund (Pakistan), representative of the Committee of Trustees of the UN Trust Fund for South Africa, making a statement. At left is Secretary-General Kurt Waldheim. At right is Nicasio G. Valderrama (Philippines), Rapporteur of the Special Committee.

The Special Committee against Apartheid held a special solemn meeting this morning in observance of the International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination. All Permanent Missions had been invited to attend the meeting, along with representatives of non-Member States, the specialized agencies and other organizations in the UN family, and the two Southern African movements - the African National Congress of South Africa (ANC) and the Panafricanist Congress of Azania (PAC). The General-Assembly decided in 1966 to proclaim the International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination in order to commemorate the incident at Sharpeville, South Africa, on 21 March 1960 in which 69 demonstrators against pass laws under the apartheid system were shot killed and 180 others wounded.
Mustafa Sam, representative of the Organization of African Unity (OAU), making a statement.