A/HRC/54/67 focused on increasing economic inclusion for African heritage communities; the decolonization of educational subjects; anti-discrimination policies to promote human rights; social justice and equality; a 2021 reparations motion to address racial inequalities in the current economic system; and the employment of more Black academics in senior roles within higher educational institutions. 22. Emelda Davis, a second generation-born Australian South Sea Islander, is the first Black woman elected to serve on the Sydney City Council. She spoke to the exploitation and forced labour of Pacific islanders in the Australian sugar, maritime and other industries, the direct links to the transatlantic trade and trafficking in enslaved Africans, and the pivot east as the triangular trade became less tenable in the West, as well as the continued trafficking of people from the Pacific. 23. Oumaria Mamane, a member of the Committee on the Protection of the Rights of All Migrant Workers and Members of Their Families, recommended taking steps to eliminate all forms of discrimination, including racial discrimination, and to allow human rights to be universally applied to people of Africa. 24. The Chair of the Working Group highlighted the importance of education as an instrument for economic empowerment and emphasized the need for relevant education. 25. Representatives of civil society emphasized the importance of incorporating specific budgets and policies that had a direct impact on communities of people of African descent. Also discussed was the importance of storytelling to modify the narrative around people of African descent, the rebuilding of museums and the creation of new ones, such as the International African American Museum in Charleston, United States, and the upcoming Pan-African Museum in Ghana. 26. Civil society representatives noted that contemporary immigration was greatly fuelled by the poverty caused by natural disasters, particularly by the man-made climate crisis, and the political crises resulting from globally prevalent neoliberal practices, which have contributed to the global inequality between North and South, making it necessary for States to revise their restrictive immigration policies. 27. The second panel, on the theme of “Dismantling black debt: from rhetoric to reality”, was chaired by the Chair of the Working Group. 28. James Omolo of the Afryka Connect Foundation presented the debt burden as a modality of colonial governance. He explained that the subsequent defaulting on debt and the imposition of economic reforms through structural adjustment programmes had exacerbated the crisis. By addressing those challenges and re-evaluating international lending practices, African nations could hope to overcome the hurdles posed by the ongoing debt crisis and pave the way for sustainable growth and prosperity. 29. The President of Haïti Futur et Haïti Patrimoine, Josette Bruffaerts-Thomas, provided insights into the history and impact of debt in Haiti by noting the imposition of an indemnity by France, which forced Haiti into debt with France. The debt burden and its hidden costs had severe consequences for the country, leading to skewed governance priorities and a neglect of vital sectors, such as education and infrastructure. The speaker emphasized the need for reparations and investment in the country’s future, particularly in education, health care and economic development. 30. Yvonne Apiyo Brändle-Amolo of the Pan-African Women’s Association, Switzerland, emphasized the role of parliamentarians in reversing the barriers that generate debt and in implementing social protection measures. She highlighted the importance of collaborative efforts and the need for unity in addressing historical injustices, such as slavery and colonialism. She introduced the newly established European Minority Parliamentarians Caucus, which aims to address structural racism, support entrepreneurship, invest in education and training, increase political participation, advocate for workers’ rights and ensure social protection measures for people of African descent. 31. The Independent Expert on the effects of foreign debt and other related international financial obligations of States on the full enjoyment of all human rights, particularly economic, social and cultural rights, Attiya Waris, highlighted the disparity in risk GE.23-12890 7