At the UN Regional Service Centre Entebbe (RSCE), July 2025 became a landmark moment for our ongoing commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion. Through a dynamic week of anti-racism events, the RSCE continued to build a culture of awareness, accountability, and action, reaffirming that anti-racism is not a one-time event, but a sustained journey embedded in our daily work and values.

The campaign began on July 18th with a screening of “Mandela: Long Walk to Freedom” in honour of Nelson Mandela International Day. This event, inspired by the theme “It’s in Your Hands,” left a lasting impression among the attendees. As colleagues reflected, a central message emerged: “It’s more natural to love than to hate. We are taught to hate.” The need to continue to nurture justice and empathy in our workplace was clear.

The second event brought staff together at the unit level to watch “Good Hair: Perceptions of Racism,” a short film highlighting hair discrimination—an often-overlooked form of discrimination impacting people of African descent. Through guided discussions led by managers and Deputy Director RSCE, Ms. Nalini Contreras, staff explored ways RSCE can create an environment where everyone feels free to express their identity. As one colleague put it, “Hair is not just style but our heritage. It’s who we are.” 

On July 23rd, “the Privilege Game Session” challenged participants to look honestly at how race, gender, and class shape opportunities. While everyone starts at the same line in theory, the exercise revealed hidden barriers and inspired empathy. One participant reflected, “We all start at the same line, but life doesn’t give us the same tools. If we recognize that, we can help lift each other up.”

The week concluded with “Voices from Our Nations: A Cultural Kaleidoscope” on July 25th, a lively celebration of the many cultures and countries represented at RSCE. In her opening remarks, Anti Racism Advocate Ms. Contreras reminded us: “Culture is not only what we inherit -it is what we choose to preserve and pass on… Let this event be a reminder: our differences are not divisions. They are gifts.” Staff wore traditional attire, shared music, poetry, facts and stories from Uganda, Nepal, the USA, India, Germany, Belize, Haiti, and Kenya.

The event ended with the signing of the UNRSCE Anti-racism pledge where all RSCE personnel committed to building a Centre free of racism and to uphold the principles of fundamental human rights, dignity and worth of all human beings as enshrined in the United Nations Charter.

The ceremonies ended with a rousing performance of “Hakuna Matata, Jambo Bwana,” uniting everyone in song and spirit.

To close the week’s events, Mr. Emmanuel Ngor, Chief of Regional Field Technology Services and Anti-Racism Advocate, offered a compelling charge to the RSCE community: “Celebration alone is not enough; we must dismantle exclusionary systems. Anti-racism starts with each of us… Let this campaign be a rallying cry for anti-racism rooted in love and unity.”