Zero Discrimination Day is based on fears of discrimination experienced by people with HIV and AIDS. United Nations (UN) invites the world community to respect diversity and not discriminate against others. Therefore, UNAIDS (UN program for global movements related to HIV and AIDS), declares every March 1 as a Zero Discrimination Day.
Initially, UNAIDS launched the Zero Discrimination Day as a day to eliminate discrimination against those suffering from HIV and AIDS. But as the year changes, every March 1 is celebrated not only to campaign for the elimination of discrimination against people with HIV and AIDS, but in any form of discrimination and as a celebration of diversity.
Discrimination is obtained when a person or a group of people are given different treatment, exceptions, and prohibitions of a thing on the grounds of differences in themselves. The differences are in the form of gender, ethnicity, citizenship, religion, disability, sexual orientation, social class, age, marital status / responsibilities in the family, and other conditions / categories.
UNAIDS sees the importance of eliminating discrimination against all conditions or categories of people, not just those living with HIV and AIDS. The spirit that is encouraged is tolerance, compassion, and peace in the world. Like the butterfly symbol on the Zero Discrimination Day logo, we are expected to transform. We can change into a society without discrimination. Are we ready to transform?