Every year on October 19, Mexico marks its annual Day against Discrimination which celebrates the official abolition of slavery in Mexico by Don Miguel Hidalgo y Costilla in 1810*.

It is a celebration of freedom and equality that form the roots of Mexico as a country. However, the responsibility for creating a society that guarantees equal rights for all people belongs to each and every individual. So this year, the National Council for the Prevention of Discrimination (CONAPRED) invited all companies in Mexico, including Agnico Eagle, to share the various activities they are undertaking to help prevent and eliminate discrimination in Mexico.

For the first time in history, more than 150 companies were asked to hold employee gatherings on this day and take photos at their work sites that show how their company is demonstrating a commitment to equality and the elimination of discrimination. They were then asked to upload the photos to their social media networks, including Twitter and Facebook, using the hashtag #PréndeteVsLaDiscriminación.

The intention was to promote a conversation between citizens and government institutions, and reinforce that message that inequality is an issue that affects every area of our lives, and raise awareness of the issue of discrimination and the importance of equality across all of Mexico.

The photos were then “pinned” to a map of the country showing nationwide the combined national effort to make non-discrimination a reality in their country.

The activity was extremely well received by employees at Agnico Eagle and across the country and in the end also exceeded the expectations of CONAPRED.

*On December 6, 1810 Don Miguel Hidalgo y Costilla, a Mexican Roman Catholic priest and a leader of the Mexican War of Independence, issued a decree abolishing slavery, threatening those who did not comply with death.