A/HRC/21/60 51. Observers also suggested prioritizing the formulation, adoption and implementation of national action plans against racial discrimination, as recommended in the Durban Declaration and Programme of Action. Emphasis was also placed on the need to review existing domestic laws and adopt new laws that should be in line with international law, including laws which criminalize acts of racism, including incitement to racial hatred and to take measures to ensure that people of African descent have equal protection of the law and equal access to justice. 52. An intervention by a non-governmental organization representative was made on the changing nature of discrimination and exclusion in the context of contemporary global migration, which involves a significant number of people of African descent. The high incidence of xenophobic crimes with lethal consequences for non-nationals, many of whom are of African descent was presented as an example of this issue. The issue of discrimination in employment was also highlighted as an area in which the intersection of immigration, racial discrimination and xenophobic manifest in the unequal access by many people of African descent to employment opportunities. It was noted that there is a lack of statistical data on migrants which has serious consequences for the formulation of policies and laws around migration. 53. During the interactive discussion, the concept of “intercultural education” was highlighted as a positive strategy to address the rights of people of African descent and structural discrimination. Intercultural education recognizes and respects cultural diversity, challenges discrimination and ensures that the particular needs of specific ethnic groups are addressed through education and promotes exchanges between cultural groups within a society. In the case of people of African descent, this may entail ensuring the provision of bilingual education where relevant, and ensuring that curricula value and respect the history, culture and contributions that people of African descent have made to their nations and global development in order to promote their recognition within society and a sense of identity, particularly for children and young people of African descent. 54. The Working Group was encouraged to include the theme of political inclusion in the Decade, both in terms of people of African descent being actively involved and represented in political parties, and their increased participation in decisions that affect their lives. States were encouraged to pay particular attention to consulting with and involving people of African descent in the development and implementation of policies and programmes that concern them, while including developing national action plans against racial discrimination. They were also encouraged to strengthen leadership among people of African descent and to undertake initiatives for their participation, which should be carried out with special consideration for the meaningful participation of women and young people of African descent. During the interactive discussion an observer proposed several priority areas of action including: training of political leaders of African descent in the countries; improvement in access to higher education; protection of the environment; gender and ethnic approaches in public policies; and implementation of effective measures against racial discrimination based on human rights indicators. 55. At its third meeting, held on 1 May 2012, Doudou Diène, former Special Rapporteur on contemporary forms of racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance, stressed the importance of the Working Group in providing substance to the discussion on people of African descent. He stated that the concept of people of African descent might be ambiguous as it cannot be limited historically and geographically. He stressed the importance of a holistic and universal approach to the issue. Mr. Diène emphasized that people of African descent could not be linked only to the slave trade as the issue of people of African descent was broader. He mentioned that in India there were a number of people of African descent who arrived from the African continent while many 12