“Memory Days Will Not Save Us”

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“Memory days will not save us” It seems that we find relieving to add memory days to our calendars. For instance, in 1950 the International Day of Human Rights was started to be celebrated on December 10. Ten years later on March 21 the South African police killed 69 people protesting peacefully against apartheid pass-law. So, in 1966 the International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination was introduced to remember them. Maybe this was not enough, because in 1994 the 9th of August became the International Day of the World’s Indigenous People to “promote and protect the right of the world’s indigenous population”. And again, in 1998 the Australian government introduced that on May 26 the Sorry Day would be celebrated to remember the wrong committed against the Aborigines perpetuated by the British settlers until the 80s. In the same year the Swedish government formally apologize for the mistreatment against Sami population. Unfortunately, the introduction of these memory days has never prevented or decreased racism and discrimination episodes. Therefore, we may ask ourselves: is it enough one day per year to remember ourselves what kind of mistakes we have done across centuries? Despite the different national and international agencies and institutions continue to work for the promotion of human rights, equal opportunities and the free expression of thought, faith or sexual orientation, almost everyday we have to read news regarding discrimination cases, which eventually prevent people of fully living their lives. Speaking only about the Indigenous communities it is important to understand that the problem is not solved and that abuse and violence against them have no boundaries, as pointed this year by the UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-Moon during the celebration of the International Day of Indigenous Peoples: "The 370 million people belonging to

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