A/66/313 B. Victims of racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance 25. The Special Rapporteur has repeatedly emphasized the need to adopt a victimoriented approach, to ensure that actions undertaken truly respond to the concrete needs of those experiencing racism and discrimination. In line with the Durban documents, the Special Rapporteur has highlighted that all victims should receive the same attention and protection and that it is essential to avoid establishing any hierarchy among the different manifestations of discrimination, even if they may vary in nature and degree depending on the historical, geographical and cultural context. All forms of racism and discrimination should be addressed with the same emphasis and determination. 26. In this context, the Special Rapporteur would like to highlight the negative impact of racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance on the full enjoyment of the civil, cultural, economic, political and social rights of certain groups. Since his previous report to the General Assembly, the Special Rapporteur has discussed the situation of people of African descent (see subsection B.1), Roma (see subsection B.2) and those who face discrimination based on work and descent, including discrimination based on caste and analogous systems of inherited status (see subsection B.3). 1. People of African descent 27. In the context of the celebration of the International Year for People of African Descent, the Special Rapporteur contributed to the thematic discussion on “Racial discrimination against people of African descent”, held by the Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination in Geneva on 7 March 2011. In addition, he participated in the thematic discussion on “People of African descent: Overview of the current situation facing people of African descent”, held in the framework of the tenth session of the Working Group of Experts on People of African Descent on 29 March. A joint statement on “Recognition, justice and development: a road map to achieve full equality for people of African descent” was also delivered by the Special Rapporteur and other United Nations independent human rights experts on the occasion of the International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination on 21 March. 28. The Special Rapporteur acknowledged that progress and positive changes had been made; however, he emphasized that important challenges still remained. Indeed, despite century-long fights against racism and racial discrimination, people of African descent continued to be discriminated against and marginalized as a result of the historical injustices and grave human rights violations they had suffered from in the past, including slavery and the transatlantic slave trade. That was particularly blatant in the areas of education, employment, health and housing. Inequalities also seeped into the access to political decision-making and judicial systems. In the administration of justice in particular, important challenges remained with regard to racial discrimination against people of African descent and their unequal treatment before the law, especially in the criminal justice system. They often face institutional racism in the area of penal administration. Racial profiling by the police also adversely affects them. 11-45818 9