A/HRC/54/71 contributions of African Guyanese to the country, and for affirmative action or reparatory justice for African Guyanese. 19. Ilex Acción Jurídica, an organization advocating for racial justice in Colombia and Latin America, highlighted their focus on two key areas: landmark Colombian Constitutional Court decisions protecting the rights of Afro Descendants during the COVID-19 pandemic and recognizing the significance of traditional midwifery in the Pacific region, and the importance of collecting disaggregated ethnic-racial data to address inequalities and monitor institutional racism. Ilex recommends the Working Group to focus on the need for monitoring judicial decisions’ implementation, enhanced collaboration with other UN mechanisms, and improved communication with civil society organizations for more effective follow-up on human rights issues affecting Afrodescendant communities. 20. The Racial Justice and Law Center of the São Paulo Law School of the Getúlio Vargas Foundation highlighted that even after the Working Group’s visit to Brazil in 2013 and the recommendations they provided, there continues to be a chronic situation of police violence and brutality against black people in the country. The cases analyzed in the research highlight how the police word still carries significant weight in court, leading to acquittals even when there is evidence from civil witnesses and experts pointing to police misconduct. This indicates a lack of progress in addressing the issue and implementing the necessary changes to hold police accountable for their actions and protect the human rights of Afro-descendants in Brazil. 21. The City of Cologne noted its diverse population and that it considers diversity as a strength and opportunity. The city is committed to promoting inclusivity and addressing racism and colonial heritage. Initiatives and activities have been supported to give more visibility to Afro-diasporic communities and encourage their participation. The city banned the use of the N-word and funded Black History Month events. Education and cultural projects were also supported to celebrate African heritage and contributions. The city is actively dealing with its colonial past, with an expert committee appointed to develop recommendations for action by the end of 2023. In December 2022, the City of Cologne reached an agreement to transfer ownership of historic Benin bronzes to Nigeria, aiming to return looted cultural assets to their rightful owners. 22. The Victorian Equal Opportunity and Human Rights Commission jointly with the Victoria University noted that the visit of the Working Group to Australia in December 2022 shed light on challenges faced by the community, including anti-blackness and policies leading to overrepresentation in detention. The community received the Working Group’s recommendations as a credible effort to address their human rights concerns. The visit also fostered connections between the African Australian community and civil society, enabling advocacy skills development and collaboration on promoting human rights. As a result of the strengthened ties, a delegation of five African Australian individuals attended the 32nd session of WGEPAD on Economic Empowerment of People of African Descent, increasing awareness of the presence and contributions of people of African descent in Australia and the Asia Pacific region. 23. AI for the People, illustrated how recommendation 84 of the report of the Working Group of Experts on People of African Descent on Data Justice (A/HRC/42/59) shaped AI for the People’s advocacy for the crafting and introduction of the Algorithmic Accountability Act to the US House of Representatives in June 2019. This federal bill would hold technology companies accountable for algorithmic harm levied against Black and other people of African descent. Further to the recommendation of the Working Group the discussion on the addition of human rights impact assessments was considered. The murder of George Floyd when combined with this policy advocacy has resulted in AI for the People having a seat on Tik Tok’s Content Moderation Advisory Board, working alongside Google Health on their next generation of devices. 24. The Working Group also took note of the oral contributions during the online consultation. Contributions focused on the importance of the role of the Working Group as an amplifying voice for people of African Descent, including women as they often face multiple forms of discrimination. It was mentioned that the work in the reports brings to the attention of government complex issues such as systemic discrimination, not solely confined GE.23-15301 25