As a black Occupational Therapy student, I have experienced discrimination in various forms due to my race, culture, and religious beliefs. In my third year of study, I was placed in a residential home in Stellenbosch where the predominant language spoken was Afrikaans. Despite expressing concerns about the language barrier, my clinicians continued to communicate with me in Afrikaans. This act of exclusion deprived me of engaging meaningfully in education and practice.

This personal experience is not unique but echoes the experiences of many students across universities worldwide who face systematic racism. According to a report by The National Union of Students (NUS), 1 out of 6 students from minority ethnic backgrounds have experienced racism at their university (NUS Report on Racism on Campus). This alarming statistic underscores the urgent need for universities to take concrete steps towards combating systematic racism.

We are calling for all universities globally to be required by law to develop specific policies against systematic racism and ensure these policies are well communicated among their student body. These policies should include clear procedures for reporting incidents related to racial discrimination or harassment, as well as measures that ensure fair treatment regardless of race or ethnicity.

Let us stand together against systemic racism within our educational institutions. Let's make sure no student has ever again deprived meaningful education due to racial discrimination or cultural differences. Please sign this petition today so we can bring about this much-needed change!