A/HRC/14/18 112. Mr. Sicilianos suggested that proposals be clustered in two areas: organizational ideas and substantive ideas, to ensure that they could be meaningfully discussed by the Human Rights Council. C. Presentation and discussion of the draft conclusions and recommendations of the ninth session 113. The Chair opened the 8th meeting on 16 April with a presentation of the draft conclusions and recommendations, as well as the proposals of the Working Group for the observance of the International Year for People of African Descent. She invited the other experts and observers to formulate comments. Following the discussion, the amended conclusions and recommendations were adopted at the 9th meeting by the Working Group, along with its proposals for the International Year for People of African Descent. The Chair then made her closing statement and the ninth session was concluded. IV. A. Conclusions and recommendations Conclusions 114. The Working Group is conscious of the fact that structural discrimination against people of African descent has deep historic roots and manifests itself in a unique and multidimensional manner due to the double legacy of slavery and colonialism. 115. The Working Group underlines the importance of States encouraging selfidentification by people of African descent, as a precondition to adequately addressing discrimination against them in all areas. The Working Group underlines the importance of States facilitating self-recognition of people in the process of collecting disaggregated data. 116. The Working Group emphasizes the profound and persistent nature of structural discrimination against people of African descent, including in countries where they represent the numerical majority. The consequences of structural discrimination against people of African descent, even if such discrimination appears to be unintentional, can be as pernicious as direct discrimination. 117. The Working Group notes improvements in facilitating access to education for people of African descent, but remains concerned about continuing differential standards concerning both access to and quality of education. The Working group is also concerned about the insufficient degree to which such education fosters social mobility and facilitates access to higher level employment opportunities. 118. The Working Group intends to engage with relevant United Nations agencies, funds and programmes to assist States with improving access to quality education at all levels for people of African descent. 119. The Working Group notes that a holistic approach, encompassing education, health care, the administration of justice, employment and housing, is imperative to breaking the cycle of poverty, social, economic exclusion and marginalization in which the majority of people of African descent are trapped. The Working Group stresses that the Millennium Development Goals should be achieved for all sectors of society, including people of African descent. 18