A/HRC/14/18 B. Election of the Chairperson-Rapporteur 9. During the 1st meeting, on 12 April, the experts of the Working Group elected Ms. Najcevska as Chairperson-Rapporteur. 10. Ms. Najcevska also paid tribute to Mr. Nettleford. She noted that he firmly believed that people of African descent should draw upon their own culture and values when facing and resolving challenges. C. Organization of work 11. During the 1st meeting, the Chair suggested that the agenda and the programme of work for the session be revised so as to include a presentation by Ms. Sahli on her participation in the second session of the Forum on Minority Issues, which had been held in Geneva in November 2009, and a short summary by Ms. Najcevska of the two country visits recently carried out by the Working Group. The revised agenda and programme of work, as orally amended by the Chair, were adopted accordingly. III. Summary of deliberations 12. Ms. Sahli provided an overview of the second session of the Forum on Minority Issues, where the focus had been on effective political participation. She reported that the Chair of the forum was United States Congresswoman Barbara Lee, who also chaired the Congressional Black Caucus, and that the work of the forum had been guided by the independent expert on minority issues, Gay McDougall. More than 500 participants, including representatives of Governments, treaty bodies, United Nations specialized agencies and civil society had participated in the forum. Ms. Sahli informed the room that challenges and problems with regard to effective political participation of minorities had been discussed. The participants had also analysed channels of communication between minorities and majorities and between minorities and Governments. Another issue that had been discussed at the forum was how minorities should be represented in majority parties or whether they should have their own parties. It had been noted that intensified awarenessraising initiatives were required. The need for establishing channels for exchange of expertise, data and possible solutions had been noted.2 13. Ms. Najcevska provided an overview of the country visits of the Working Group to Ecuador and the United States of America. She thanked both Governments for their collaboration. With regard to Ecuador she pointed out that the Working Group was particularly impressed by the new Constitution adopted in 2008, which allowed for advances to be made in the protection and promotion of the human rights of all vulnerable groups, including the population of African descent. She also noted the unprecedented amount of resources that the Government had invested in social services during the previous two years, particularly to benefit poorer sectors of society. Ms. Najcevska emphasized that structural and widespread racism in Ecuador was triggered by stereotypes and prejudices and that special attention should be given to poverty. Several of the Working Group’s recommendations for addressing discrimination against people of African descent in Ecuador were mentioned (see A/HRC/13/59). 2 4 See the recommendations of the second session of the Forum on Minority Issues on minorities and effective political participation (A/HRC/13/25).