A/69/318 framework. The Durban Declaration and Programme of Action established a clear link between underdevelopment and the colonialism that was the root of much of the injustice that currently existed in many parts of the developing world. The Working Group encouraged participants to advocate for the implementation of the recommendations of the Durban Declaration and Programme of Action as part of the post-2015 agenda. The Durban Declaration and Programme of Action formulated specific recommendations to combat discrimination, urging financial and development institutions and the operational programmes and specialized agencies of the United Nations to assign particular priority, and allocate sufficient fundin g, to improving the situation of Africans and people of African descent. Among the measures recommended to alleviate the plight of victims of African descent who continued to suffer the consequences of the transatlantic trade in captured Africans was that of reparation. The Durban Declaration and Programme of Action also outlined economic measures to effect change and solve socioeconomic problems, including harnessing the power of globalization for the benefit of developing countries as a means of mitigating the unevenly shared benefits that accompanied globalization. That could be achieved through, inter alia, strengthening and enhancing international cooperation to increase equality of opportunities for trade, economic growth and sustainable development. Increased educational opportunity and development and faithful implementation and enactment of laws and political, social and economic policies were important for mitigating the socioeconomic problems faced by people of African descent. 55. In 2014, OHCHR released a brochure on the Working Group’s mandate and methods of work for public information and wide dissemination to raise awareness about the Working Group and the issues it addresses. IV. Conclusions and recommendations 56. In conclusion, the Working Group welcomes the proclamation of the International Decade for People of African Descent starting on 1 January 2015 and ending on 31 December 2024, with the theme “People of African descent: recognition, justice and development” and stands ready to provide any substantive assistance the General Assembly may require during the Decade. 57. The Working Group encourages the General Assembly to adopt a strong, comprehensive and action-oriented document that will inform and guide the International Decade. It recommends that Member States use, to the extent possible, its proposed programme of action for the Decade, which contains practical activities to be developed at the national, regional and international levels. In particular, the programme of action should include the establishment of a permanent forum on people of African descent and the drafting of a United Nations declaration on the promotion of and full respect for the human rights of people of African descent, which will serve as a legal framework for the promotion and protection of the rights of people of African descent. 58. In accordance with the themes of the Decade, the Working Group recalls some of the recommendations contained in its annual reports to the Human Rights Council, in 2014 (A/HRC/27/68) and 2013 (A/HRC/24/52) respectively, on equal access to justice and recognition through education, cultural rights 14/22 14-59293