Almost 50 years after the Sharpeville Massacre in South Africa, the European Union has reiterated its stance against racism.

"The EU strongly condemns all forms of racism, racial discrimination, intolerance and discrimination and urges states to adopt effective measures to combat the symptoms and causes of racism and discrimination and to effectively guarantee the freedom of thought, conscience, religion and belief to all without distinction," the body said Wednesday.

This was in the declaration by the Presidency, currently held by Germany, on behalf of the EU on the International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination.

In 1966, the United Nations General Assembly proclaimed March 21, the anniversary of the Sharpeville massacre, the International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination.

During the Sharpeville massacre on 21 March 1960, 69 people were killed by apartheid security forces. Those who died include eight women and ten children.

Further to this, 180 people were wounded, of which 31 were women and 19 were children.

The police opened fire on approximately 300 demonstrators, who were protesting in Sharpeville, near Vereeniging, against the pass laws.

Based on the conviction that all human beings are born free and equal in dignity and rights, the EU Charter of Fundamental Rights explicitly prohibits discrimination based on any ground such as sex, race or colour, origin, religion or belief, or on the grounds of a person´s opinion or sexual orientation.

In 2007, which has been designated as the 'European Year of Equal Opportunities for All', a major debate will be launched in Europe on the benefits of diversity for European societies.

In a parallel development, the EU Fundamental Rights Agency was established in March 2007.

"Building on the European Monitoring Centre on Racism and Xenophobia, the work of the Agency will continue to cover the phenomena of racism, xenophobia and anti-Semitism, the protection of rights of persons belonging to minorities, as well as gender equality, as essential elements for the protection of fundamental rights," the EU said.

With the aim of combating racism, xenophobia und discrimination worldwide, the EU also cooperates closely with all relevant international actors and in all relevant international fora, especially the United Nations and its special mechanisms, the Council of Europe, the OSCE, the High Commissioner for Human Rights and relevant civil society organisations.

"In this context, the EU remains firmly committed to implementing the goals and objectives as defined by the World Conference against Racism, Racial Discrimination, Xenophobia and Related Intolerance in Durban/South Africa in 2001."

The EU emphasised that the follow-up process to Durban must be agreed by consensus and pursued as a joint effort by the international community.

"The EU reiterates its call on all states that have not yet done so to sign, ratify and implement as a matter of priority the International Convention on the Elimination of all Forms of Racial Discrimination as the core international legal instrument in this respect," the body said.