A/69/318 (iii) Developing programmes intended for people of African descent allocating additional investments to health systems, education, housing, electricity, drinking water and environmental control measures and promoting equal opportunities in employment, as well as other affirmative or positive action initiatives, within the human rights framework; (e) To make proposals on the elimination of racial discrimination against Africans and people of African descent in all parts of the world; (f) To address all the issues concerning the well-being of Africans and people of African descent contained in the Durban Declaration and Programme of Action. 5. In 2008, the Working Group’s mandate was extended for a further three years by Human Rights Council resolution 9/14. In 2011, the Human Rights Council, in its resolution 18/28, extended the mandate of the Working Group for an additional period of three years in accordance with resolution 9/14. 6. In accordance with its methods of work adopted at its twelfth session, the Working Group: (a) Meets for two sessions of five working days each, in closed and public meetings, every year. The public sessions are organized on a thematic basis and the closed sessions are dedicated to consultations and internal matters related to its mandate; (b) Undertakes two country visits a year and reports to the Human Rights Council on its findings and recommendations; (c) Submits an annual report to the Human Rights Council on all its activities; (d) Processes allegations that fall within the scope of its mandate under the communication procedure. 7. The Working Group comprises five independent experts serving in their personal capacities. The five mandate-holders serving during the time period covered by the present report were: Chair-Rapporteur Ms. Mireille Fanon MendesFrance (France), Ms. Monorama Biswas (Bangladesh), Ms. Mirjana Najcevska (the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia), Ms. Maya Sahli (Algeria) and Ms. Verene Shepherd (Jamaica). In 2014, three members of the Working Group will retire and new mandate-holders will be appointed by the Human Rights Council from the Africa Group, Eastern European Group and Asia-Pacific Group. III. Activities of the Working Group of Experts on People of African Descent (July 2013 to June 2014) A. Annual meetings Thirteenth session (18 to 22 November 2013) 8. The thirteenth session was a closed meeting in which the Wo rking Group considered such internal matters as future work, country visits and communications and held consultations with various stakeholders, including Governments, regional 4/22 14-59293