"Racist political speeches foster individuals’ dehumanization and denigration of some ethnical, religious or cultural groups". And they also foster the strengthening of "clichés and the creation of an atmosphere encouraging racist violence". With a view to the International Day for the elimination of racial discrimination (March 21st), the Council of Europe, the Court of Human Rights, the European Union and OCSE joined their voices by addressing a message to the political class. The signing institutions "unanimously condemn the speeches which convey ideas of superiority based on race, colour, language, religion, and nationality". "Every racist speech opposes the fundamental equality among all human beings". This special Day recalls the fact happened in Sharpeville, South Africa, in 1960, when the police opened fire and killed 69 people taking part in a peaceful demonstration against apartheid. The 2008 message, above all, concentrates on the weight which the messages by political leaders obtain on the public opinion, influencing the way of understanding themes such as "immigration, integration and the struggle against racism".
