A/69/318 25. On 21 November 2013, the Working Group and the Special Rapporteur in the field of cultural rights, the Independent Expert on minority issues and the Special Rapporteur on contemporary forms of racism, racial discrimination, xenop hobia and related intolerance released a joint media statement regarding allegations that the portrayal of the servant of Saint Nicholas, Zwarte Piet (Black Pete), in the Saint Nicholas festival celebrated each year in the Netherlands on 5 December perpetuated a negative stereotype of Africans and people of African descent. They called upon the Government of the Netherlands to take the lead in facilitating the growing national debate, in order to promote understanding, mutual respect and intercultural dialogue. 26. In its reply, the Government acknowledged that some Dutch people found the tradition offensive and that complaints relating to Zwarte Piet had sharply increased. It noted that national mechanisms allowed individuals to complain about cases of discrimination. 27. The joint media statement followed the joint communication sent in January 2013 by the Working Group, the Special Rapporteur in the field of cultural rights, the Independent Expert on minority issues and the Special Rapporteur on contemporary forms of racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance to the Government of the Netherlands regarding the Dutch celebration of Black Pete. On 29 August 2013, the Working Group sent a joint allegation letter with the Special Rapporteur on contemporary forms of racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance to the United States regarding allegations related to undue delays in the case concerning the death of Trayvon Martin and the alleged discriminatory impact of laws on African Americans. According to the information received, the Criminal Section of the Civil Rights Division of the United States Department of Justice, the United States Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Florida and the Federal Bureau of Investigation continue to evaluate the evidence generated during the federal investigation, as well as the evidence and testimony from the state trial concerning the death of Trayvon Martin in February 2012. The Working Group and the Special Rapporteur appealed to the Government to finalize without undue delay the ongoing review, along with the delivery of justice and appropriate reparations. They appealed to the Government to examine the laws that could have a discriminatory impact on African Americans and to ensure that such laws were brought into full compliance with the country’s international legal obligations and relevant international standards. 28. Communications sent by the Working Group and replies received are included in the joint report by special procedures mandate-holders on their communications, submitted to each regular session of the Human Rights Council (see A/HRC/26/21). D. International Decade for People of African Descent 29. On 23 December 2013, the General Assembly, by its resolution 68/237, proclaimed the International Decade for People of African Descent starting on 1 January 2015 and ending on 31 December 2024, with the theme “People o f African descent: recognition, justice and development”. 30. The Working Group welcomes the proclamation of the International Decade for People of African Descent as an extremely important opportunity for focused attention on the promotion and protection of the rights of people of African descent. 8/22 14-59293