International Year of Mobilisation for Sanctions against South Africa is launched

The United Nations Special Committee against Apartheid (originally called the Special Committee on the Policies of Apartheid of the Government of the Republic of South Africa), launched the International Year of Mobilisation for Sanctions against South Africa. The country was widely criticised for its policies of racial discrimination policies. The Special Committee against Apartheid was established by the General Assembly under resolution 1761 (XVII) of November 6 1962, with a view to keep the racial policies of the South African Government under review throughout the year.

The United Nations had been concerned with the issue of racial discrimination since its formation in 1945. On 19 November 1946, during its first session, the UN General Assembly adopted a resolution declaring that “It is in the higher interests of humanity to put an immediate end to religious and so-called racial persecution and discrimination.” It further called on governments and responsible authorities to conform both to the letter and to the spirit of the Charter of the UN, and to take the most prompt and energetic steps to that end.