E/CN.4/2003/21 page 13 indicator and that, over time, the disturbing disparities between Afro-Brazilians and other Brazilians were not disappearing. He stated that the labour market made adverse distinctions based on race, and as a result Afro-Brazilians suffered poverty and extreme poverty. He argued that the origin of these contemporary racial differences in Brazil were attributable to long-term, widespread and large-scale slavery in Brazil’s history. He added that this racial discrimination persisted and that Brazil was in many ways working to overcome the myth of a harmonious “racial democracy”. 71. The Chairperson-Rapporteur thanked Mr. Martins for his frank and illuminating presentation and stated that the situation just described was not restricted to Brazil, but was the case in many countries. 72. The observer for Brazil recalled that he had presented a number of affirmative action programmes being undertaken by Brazil to address these inequalities and stated that his country hoped to provide more information at future sessions of the Working Group. 73. The observer for International Possibilities Unlimited stated that it was to be expected that the differentials between racial groups in Brazil was not narrowing over time, because it had taken over four centuries to establish such entrenched structural inequality. 74. The observer for Proceso de Comunidades Negras en Colombia pointed to the fundamental importance of credible census-taking in countries and the need to accurately identify people of African descent so that programming could be targeted and the inequalities that they experienced could be addressed. 75. Several participants commended the research and presentation by Mr. Martins and agreed that it could serve as a model for other countries in the region and around the world. It was mentioned that research, as well as research methodologies such as this, should be shared, especially among Afro-descent researchers. 76. At the fifth meeting of the Working Group, Ms. Irina Zlătescu presented her paper (E/CN.4/2003/WG.20/WP.4) on “How to use United Nations human rights mechanisms for an effective protection of the rights of people of African descent”. She gave an overview of the various United Nations mechanisms since the Universal Declaration of Human Rights that addressed the human rights of minorities and racial groups and dealt with the issue of racial discrimination. She noted that a thorough analysis of the de jure and de facto situation of people of African descent is a difficult task due to the diversity of the group, as well as its needs and expectations. She concluded that it would be important to gather relevant information at the international and national level and from governmental and non-governmental sources in order to examine the situation of people of African descent and arrive at solutions. 77. Mr. Jabbour commented that it might be useful to look into the matter of a consolidated report by the Commission on Human Rights on people of African descent. This report would look at the situation of people of African descent in all regions as well as the applicability and implementation of the core United Nations conventions with respect to them.