A/70/309 14. The Working Group also issued a number of media statements during the reporting period. On 19 June 2015, it issued a statement in which it deplored the killings of African Americans and urged that measures sho uld be taken against racist crimes. 15. On 21 March 2015, the International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination, the Working Group, the Special Rapporteur on contemporary forms of racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intoleran ce and the Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination issued a joint statement. 16. On 10 December 2014, on the occasion of the launch of the International Decade for People of African Descent, the Working Group and many special procedures mandate holders issued a joint statement. 17. On 5 December 2014, the Working Group issued a joint statement, with the Special Rapporteur on the rights to freedom of peaceful assembly and of association, the Special Rapporteur on contemporary forms of racism, r acial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance and the Special Rapporteur on minority issues, pertaining to the cases of Eric Garner and Michael Brown in the United States. 18. On 20 November 2014, the Working Group issued a statement in which it welcomed the adoption of the programme of activities for the International Decade for People of African Descent. D. International Decade for People of African Descent 19. The Working Group welcomes the International Decade for People of African Descent as an extremely important opportunity for attention to be focused on the promotion and protection of the rights of people of African descent. It will increase the visibility and recognition of people of African descent in deconstructing the paradigm of racial discrimination and is a sign of States’ political commitment to combating racial discrimination and Afrophobia. 20. The Working Group was directly involved in the development of the theme of the Decade, as well as the programme of activities for its implementation. 1. Participation in the official launch of the Decade 21. On 10 December 2014, the Chair of the Working Group delivered a statement and participated in the official launch of the Decade at Headquarters. She and Ms. Shepherd also participated in a press conference. 2. Promotional activities 22. The Working Group continued to actively promote and partic ipate in activities to interact with civil society and assist stakeholders in the implementation of the programme of activities for the Decade. 23. On 19 November 2014, at the seventh meeting of the United Nations network on racial discrimination and protection of minorities, the Working Group provided a briefing on the Decade, including the preparations for it, its proclamation and its launch. The Chair emphasized the importance of the Decade and encouraged the members of the network to use the Decade to accord priority to activities to promote 15-13565 5/9