Racism
Racism means beliefs, practices, and institutions that discriminate against people based on their perceived or ascribed race. It can also be defined as the belief that a certain race is inherently superior or inferior to others, or that individuals should be treated differently according to their racial designation.
Racism is recognised by many as an affront to basic human dignity and a violation of human rights. A number of international treaties have sought to end racism. The United Nations uses a definition of racist discrimination laid out in the International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination and adopted in 1965:
'...any distinction, exclusion, restriction or preference based on race, colour, descent, or national or ethnic origin which has the purpose or effect of nullifying or impairing the recognition, enjoyment or exercise, on an equal footing, of human rights and fundamental freedoms in the political, economic, social, cultural or any other field of public life.'
There is dispute over whether the term 'race' is even valid. A race is said to be a distinct population of humans distinguished in some way from other humans, based on skin colour, facial features, ancestry, and genetics. However, within a so-called 'race' there is a huge degree of variation. Furthermore intermarriage between groups over centuries means it is often nonsense to think of any one group as distinct.