A/HRC/4/39 page 5 that Member States and other representatives realize that there are no participants from NGOs and civil society representing people of African descent from Latin America at the session, due to lack of funding. 18. Mr. Frans recalled the remark of the High Commissioner concerning General Assembly resolution 61/19 on the commemoration of the two-hundredth anniversary of the abolition of the trans-Atlantic slave trade. He made public his solemn request to Member States to raise awareness of the abolition of slavery and use it as a stepping stone for further discussions on racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance. He stated that Governments should do their best to ensure that children learn about the past and that the history of slavery and the slave trade must be included in school curricula. With regard to the envisaged review conference on the Durban Declaration and Programme of Action, Mr. Frans stressed that it is essential that the various stakeholders take their time to reflect on the issue and submit concrete recommendations to the Working Group, thus contributing in a constructive way to the effective organization of the review conference. Mr. Frans also stressed that there is a need for further research on slavery. He underlined that it is extremely important to have representatives of NGOs and civil society participating in the sessions of the Working Group. He added that it would be very useful if, over the following days, States and NGOs could inform the experts on the Working Group as to the progress of implementation of the Durban Declaration and Programme of Action. 19. An observer for an NGO supported Mr. Frans’ statement that it is essential to have NGOs and civil society involved in such consultative meetings. 20. Mr. Jabbour stated that with regard to the review conference, regional organizations have a special role to play. They should organize regional meetings in order to review what has been implemented in the context of the Durban Declaration and Programme of Action. 21. Ms. Zlătescu appealed to the Working Group to work hard in order to produce a better definition of racial profiling. 22. The observer for South Africa supported the statement of the representative of Algeria. She emphasized that racial profiling is a serious problem, as well as the victimization and social exclusion of people of African descent. After the terrorist attacks of 11 September 2001, the occurrences of racial profiling have increased around the world. In addition to skin colour and descent, religious symbols and religion have been added to the grounds for racial profiling. There are many unreasonable police interrogations, arrests, imprisonments and other actions due to suspicions of terrorism. She stressed that international instruments are not enough and added that it is important to remember that the Durban Declaration and Programme of Action also refer to “political will”. 23. One observer for an NGO pointed out that Member States are reluctant to implement international standards and the occurrence of racial profiling is the outcome of this reluctance. He recommended that the Working Group collaborate closely with the respective treaty bodies.