E/CN.4/2006/19 page 11 43. An observer for a State stressed the importance of introducing an ethnical perspective in plans for achieving the Millennium Development Goals and of elaborating participation indicators and indicators of results to measure the impact of national programmes. Another observer for a State said that the Working Group needed to recommend practical solutions for the empowerment of women of African descent and strategies to mainstream the situation of people of African descent into national plans to achieve the Goals and to avoid repetitions in its discussions. Other observers for States stressed the importance of continuing to discuss issues already dealt with by the mechanism so as to stress their importance and the need for action to be taken at the national level. 44. The Chairperson commented that the Working Group already made recommendations on the issue of ethnic data collection and until the problem of the invisibility of people of African descent was solved, the issue would continue to be discussed. Mr. Frans stated that to be repetitive was also a means to ensure that messages got through. He echoed the view that the implementation of the Durban Programme of Action had not been really effective so far and also that recommendations made by the follow-up mechanisms had been largely disregarded by States. 45. Edna Santos Roland proposed a list of practical measures aimed at improving the situation of people of African descent. States should concentrate their investments for achieving the Millennium Development Goals in communities of primarily African descent in order to eradicate extreme poverty and hunger, achieve universal primary education, promote gender equality, reduce child mortality, reduce maternal mortality, combat HIV/AIDS, malaria and other diseases and ensure environmental sustainability. She also submitted that States should establish targets to reduce the racial inequalities affecting their population of African descent regarding the issues tackled by the Goals. Item 6 (c) The role of political parties in the integration of people of African descent in the political life and in decision-making processes 46. In introducing agenda item 6 (c), the Chairperson recalled the key role that politicians and political parties could play in combating racism and racial discrimination by shaping and leading public opinion, and in fostering the integration of people of African descent into political life and decision- making processes. Political parties had to be encouraged to take concrete steps to promote solidarity, tolerance and respect and to explain issues to the general public in such a way as to increase understanding and the acceptance of difference. They possessed the tools to foster actions to increase the voice, and policy influence of excluded groups in national agendas, to change stereotypes, promote solidarity and social cohesion. People of African descent needed to expand their leadership capacities, membership and links with national organizations, and request the creation of ad hoc policy dialogue mechanisms to voice their concerns. 47. Mr. Frans presented his paper, entitled “The ability of mainstream Western European political parties and politicians to integrate people of African descent in political life and in decision- making processes: the impact of racist and extreme right-wing parties”. He asserted that political decisions and political parties affected the lives of people of African descent living in Western Europe. The presence of extreme right-wing parties in electoral politics had an impact on mainstream political parties and their policies and the political responses towards this phenomenon must be multifaceted and inclusive. The participation of people of African descent