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and protect the rights of people of African descent. It was noted that the theme of
the Decade reflected some of the focus areas of the network in implementing the
guidance note of the Secretary-General on racial discrimination and protection of
minorities, in particular with regard to combating racial discrimination, including in
relation to people of African descent. The members of the network agreed to
increase collaboration between the Working Group and the networ k to raise
awareness and ensure comprehensive and coherent United Nations action during the
Decade. In follow-up to the meeting, representatives of the United Nations
Development Programme, the World Health Organization and the International
Labour Organization participated as panellists during the sixteenth session of the
Working Group.
24. During its visits to Sweden and Italy, the Working Group actively promoted
the Decade, encouraging all stakeholders to take action at the national level.
25. At the Working Group’s sixteenth session, there was a panel discussion on
plans for the implementation of the Decade with a focus on development. In
addition, the Working Group organized a side event on 30 March to mark the
beginning of the Decade as a significant moment in the fight for greater protection
of the human rights of people of African descent.
26. Members of the Working Group also conducted promotional activities. In
2015, the Chair delivered statements and participated in a range of events, using the
opportunities to raise awareness and call for the implementation of the Decade. The
following are some highlights:
(a) On 11 February, she participated in Black History Month activities,
delivering a presentation on the Decade in Paris in which she emphasiz ed that its
objective was to reverse the trend of global racism, Afrophobia, xenophobia and
related intolerance against people of African descent;
(b) On 21 March, she took part in activities to mark the International Day for
the Elimination of Racial Discrimination, jointly organized by non-governmental
organizations and municipal and university authorities in Malmö, Sweden. The
discussion focused on how to govern based on non-discrimination and equality
between peoples and States in order to combat racism, racial discrimination,
Afrophobia, xenophobia, islamophobia and related intolerance;
(c) On 26 March, she attended the World Social Forum, held in Tunis,
delivering a seminar on the Decade in which she discussed how to build a global
network based on the objectives of the Decade;
(d) From 9 to 12 April, she participated in an international summit on
reparations, held in New York. Participants reviewed the issue of reparations to
understand the process for obtaining political recognition of reparations and thereby
make a significant political change for millions of people that would allow them to
move from being victims to being actors of social transformation;
(e) From 21 to 26 April, she took part in a meeting on the Decade organized
by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela to
inform Afro-Venezuelans about the Decade and mobilize them;
(f)
Bogota;
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From 19 to 22 May, she attended a meeting on the Decade held in
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