A/HRC/14/18 procedures was significantly diminished. Such loss of political power also affected access to housing, education, health and other social services. 84. An observer pointed out that adolescents of African descent were more likely to be imprisoned and to receive charges similar to the ones for adults. 85. Ms. Shepherd reiterated that in some countries translation was not provided for immigrants in legal proceedings. She also stated that in some instances the body language was misinterpreted by police officers as aggressive or dangerous. In that regard, the importance of training law enforcement officers was reiterated. An observer noted that the accumulation of injustices might negatively influence the social behaviour of individuals. 86. Mr. Fathi concluded the discussion by highlighting the intersection of immigration, deportation and criminal systems. He pointed out that minor crimes had started leading to the mandatory deportation of people of African descent. Deportation was thereby being used as an additional sanction. B. Discussion under item 6 on a draft programme of activities for the International Year for People of African Descent 87. At the 6th meeting, on 14 April, the Chair reported that, in its resolution 64/169, the General Assembly had proclaimed the year beginning on 1 January 2011 as the International Year for People of African Descent, with a view to strengthening national actions and regional and international cooperation for the benefit of people of African descent in relation to their full enjoyment of economic, cultural, social, civil and political rights, their participation and integration in all political, economic, social and cultural aspects of society, and the promotion of a greater knowledge of and respect for their diverse heritage and culture. The General Assembly encouraged Member States, the United Nations specialized agencies, within their respective mandates and existing resources, and civil society to make preparations for and identify possible initiatives that could contribute to the success of the International Year. Finally, it requested the Secretary-General to submit to the General Assembly at its sixty-fifth session a report containing a draft programme of activities for the International Year, taking into account the views and recommendations of Member States, the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, the Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination, the Working Group of Experts on People of African Descent and other relevant United Nations agencies, funds and programmes, as appropriate. 88. In accordance with that resolution, Ms. Sahli suggested several ideas, including an international day for people of African descent, the organization of an international conference on people of African descent, regional conferences on themes relevant to people of African descent, cultural weeks to highlight the culture and history of people of African descent and the creation of an international coalition of civil society to advance the rights and raise the profile of people of African descent. 89. Several NGO observers welcomed the suggestion of the Working Group for the involvement of civil society. One NGO observer, citing the example of the Netherlands, added that without special attention to civil society, NGOs from countries that had not participated in the Durban Review Conference risked being excluded from the observance of the International Year for People of African Descent. 90. The representative from Colombia, speaking on behalf of the Group of Latin American and Caribbean States (GRULAC), expressed the condolences of the group over the passing of Mr. Nettleford and welcomed the two new members of the Working Group. The representative stated that Colombia, which had proposed the initiative of the resolution, 14