A/HRC/54/71 implementation of and follow-up to the Durban Declaration and Programme of Action. Over the next 20 years, the mandate of the Working Group was renewed and expanded by the Commission5 and by the Human Rights Council.6 III. Membership 7. The Working Group consists of five independent experts appointed on the basis of equitable geographical representation.7 Since its establishment, members have hailed from Algeria, Bangladesh, Brazil, France, Greece, Guyana, Hungary, India, Jamaica, North Macedonia, the Philippines, Poland, Romania, South Africa, Sweden, the Syrian Arab Republic, Uganda, the United States of America and Zambia.8 Since 2002, 12 women and 11 men have been appointed to the Working Group. 8. The current members are Dominique Day (United States), Bina D’Costa (Bangladesh), Miriam Ekiudoko (Hungary), Barbara G. Reynolds (Guyana) and Catherine S. Namakula (Uganda). IV. Mission, impact and achievements 9. The Working Group is mandated to propose measures to ensure full and effective access to justice by people of African descent; to make recommendations on the design, implementation and enforcement of effective measures to eliminate racial profiling of people of African descent; and to elaborate short-, medium- and long-term proposals for the elimination of racial discrimination against people of African descent, including proposals for a mechanism to monitor and promote their human rights. The Working Group seeks close collaboration with international and development institutions and United Nations agencies in this regard. The Working Group is also mandated to support relevant initiatives at the community level, both locally and in transnational contexts; to facilitate the exchange of information and technical assistance; to promote investments in health, education, housing, electricity, drinking water and environmental control measures; and to promote equal opportunities in employment and affirmative or positive action initiatives within the human rights framework.9 10. Renewals of the mandate have recognized the capacity and expanded the work of the Working Group, ensuring that the scope and methods of its work encompass the promotion, protection and full realization of the human rights of people of African descent. The Working Group implements its mandate through country visits, annual reports, annual sessions (private and public), the communications procedure (allegation letters, urgent appeals, comments on legislation), amici curiae briefs, technical visits, press releases, stakeholder consultations and the elaboration of recommendations to Member States and other key stakeholders. 11. The Working Group has offered important leadership and analyses globally in the fight to combat racism since its inception. Among other things, it led the International Year for People of African Descent (2011), which was focused on raising awareness of the challenges faced by people of African descent globally. It also played a key role in the development of the programme of activities for the implementation of the International Decade for People of African Descent. In addition to the thematic focus in its annual public 5 6 7 8 9 GE.23-15301 See Commission on Human Rights resolution 2003/30. See Human Rights Council resolutions 9/14, 18/28, 27/25, 36/23 and 45/24. Commission on Human Rights resolution 2002/68, para. 8. Marie-Evelyne Petrus-Barry (France); Mireille Fanon-Mendès France (France); Linos-Alexandros Sicilianos (Greece); Joe Frans (Sweden); Sabelo Gumedze (South Africa); Maya Sahli (Algeria); Peter Lesa Kasanda (Zambia); Michal Balcerzak (Poland); Mirjana Najćevska (North Macedonia); Irina Moroianu-Zlatescu (Romania); Sushil Raj (India); Ricardo A. Sunga III (Philippines); Monorama Biswas (Bangladesh); George Nicolas Jabbour (Syrian Arab Republic); Ahmed Reid (Jamaica); Verene Shepherd (Jamaica); Ralston Milton Nettleford (Jamaica); and Roberto Borges Martins (Brazil). Commission on Human Rights resolution 2002/68, paras. 8–10. 3