E/CN.4/2006/19 page 4 8. In introducing item 5 of the agenda, the Chairperson submitted that people of African descent continued to be victims of racial discrimination and exclusion in many parts of the world, in particular as regards access to health, livelihood, social security, education and income-generating activities. In some instances, they are victims of “social cleansing”; they live in extreme poverty in urban slum areas. He recalled that the Working Group had so far pursued the implementation of its tasks through undertaking a substantial thematic analysis of issues of relevance for people of African descent, including measures to overcome social exclusion of people of African descent, as well as actions and policies fostering their participation in the basic political, economic and social functioning of the society in which they lived. 9. During the general debate, several Government observers shared information on activities and measures undertaken at the national level to implement the Durban Declaration and Programme of Action. 10. The observer for Ethiopia, on behalf of the Group of African States emphasized that in spite of the various attempts the Group of African States, made by the international community to abolish practices and policies based on racist and xenophobic motivations, racial discrimination and racist stereotypes persisted. Under these circumstances, people of African descent had paid and continue to pay a high price. Ethiopia stressed how recommendations of the Working Group were considered an important background to building on a long process for an effective implementation of the Durban Declaration and Programme of Action. Very little had been done so far in the implementation of these recommendations, either at a national or international level. At the international level, more efforts were needed to reinvigorate the Durban follow- up process. As for the national level, the Working Group should recommend that Governments consider implementing as a matter of priority national plans of action, taking into account the necessity of enhancing the participation of people of African descent in all aspects of society, and of ensuring access to education and implementing policies empowering Afrodescendant women. 11. The observer for Ecuador highlighted the positive measures undertaken on behalf of people of African descent to enable them to enjoy, on an equal footing with all the citizens of the country, all human rights. Reference was also made to the 1998 National Plan for Human Rights containing specific provisions relating to Afro-descendants. 12. The observer for Mexico, on behalf of the Group of Latin American and Caribbean States (GRULAC), reiterated his support for the Working Group and reaffirmed his commitments to identifying an expert to propose as candidate for membership of the Working Group, following Mr. Borges Martins’ resignation. The observer reported on the adoption in 2003 of a federal law for the prevention and elimination of discrimination, which also provided for the creation of a National Council to Prevent Discrimination (CONAPRED). This body had the task of formulating and implementing policies and actions in the field of education and social communication to raise awareness on the phenomena of racism and xenophobia. 13. The observer for Belgium referred to the first country visit of the Working Group on its territory, which took place in June 2005. The experts interacted with several authorities of the executive branch. Meetings also took place with various authorities of the French-speaking and Flemish regions and communities. The delegation interacted with representatives of local authorities, the Centre for the Equality of Opportunities and Opposition to Racism, NGOs and