People living in Sunderland have expressed their support for promoting today’s Zero Discrimination Day (March 1).
The day is promoted by the United Nations (UN) and UNAIDS, a UN program on HIV and AIDS, which began in 2014.
Equality, tolerance, individuality and human rights are promoted during the day.
It also celebrates people’s rights to live their lives with dignity, regardless of their age, weight, ethnicity, health issues, beliefs and nationality.
18-year-old Jordanian student, Dana Qiqieh, said: “I believe everyone has a chance in life and everyone has equal rights to do anything they want. I know people who have experienced discrimination and the feeling is not good at all.”
Hajara Saeed, 22, said: “I have been a witness of discrimination and I have been discriminated against.
“It was a couple of years ago. I was offended and kind of shocked because it’s a form of racism but people don’t really know what you are but they just want to discriminate against you.”
Michael Sidibé, UNAIDS executive director, said: “From Bamako to Baltimore, the right to health belongs to all on this zero discrimination day, let us commit to ensuring everyone, everywhere can access health care safely and live life fully with dignity.”