One of the most dangerous forms of discrimination is racial and ethnic discrimination.

These are the words of UN Human Rights Chief Navi Pillay who said left unchecked, or actively fanned, these forms of discrimination can all too easily lead to hatred, violence and in the worst cases, push on up the scale to full-blown conflict, crimes against humanity and genocide.

As today is World Human Rights Day Pillay adds discrimination feeds mistrust, resentment, violence, crime and insecurity and makes no economic sense, since it reduces productivity.

She said people need to take concrete and lasting actions to put an end to all discrimination.