Semarang - On Tuesday, December 3, 2024, the Indonesian Association of Social Sciences and Humanities Researchers and Teachers (APPISI) successfully held the 1st International Conference on Social Sciences and Humanities Innovation (ICSSHI 2024) online through Zoom. The theme of the conference was “The Impact of Racism on Global Societies: Insights and Strategies for Change,” with the aim of exploring the impact of racism on global society and formulating strategies to overcome the problem.

The event began with remarks from M Zainul Hafizi, M.Pd, who conveyed the importance of cross-cultural discussions to understand and overcome the impact of racism in various aspects of life. He also emphasized that innovation in the social sciences and humanities plays a vital role in creating positive change.

The conference featured five speakers with topics that addressed the impact of racism from various perspectives:

Sherif Abdul Raheem AJITERU explains how corruption is a major barrier to building national cohesion and social development. He highlighted the link between systemic racism and corruption in various countries, where race-based discrimination exacerbates inequality and hinders development. In his presentation, Sherif proposed a community-based approach to address corruption and strengthen social inclusiveness.

Prof. Ruswiati discussed how racism and gender bias affect business opportunities, particularly in the MSME sector. She revealed that women from minority groups often face greater challenges in accessing capital, networks and markets. With case studies from various countries, Prof. Ruswiati suggested inclusive policies to support MSMEs and reduce the impact of discrimination in the business world.

Dr. Samet Doykun elaborated on the relationship between disability and artistic creation in literature. She explained that literature is often a medium to portray the lived experiences of people with disabilities while countering harmful stereotypes. In her presentation, Dr. Samet highlighted the role of art as an empowerment and advocacy tool, as well as the importance of creating a space for disabled voices in the art world.