A/74/274 civil society should work with media and communications companies to promote more positive and inclusive images and representations of people of African descent in order to increase their visibility within society and challenge negative stereotypes and resultant discrimination; (e) To adopt measures to combat the indirect discrimination faced by children in education systems by removing the negative stereotypes and imagery often used in teaching materials, ensuring the inclusion in curricula of the histories and cultures of people of African descent and the history of the transatlantic trade in enslaved Africans and ensuring the cultural or linguistic relevance of teaching for children of African descent. Formal education at the early childhood, primary, secondary, post-secondary and adult levels must incorporate knowledge about the history of transatlantic slavery, the role of people of African descent in global development, and the diversity and richness of civilizations and cultures, which constitute the common heritage of humankind. In addition, comprehensive curricula reform should be undertaken to remove all forms of stereotyping; (f) To modify or transform harmful gender stereotypes and eliminate wrongful gender stereotyping; (g) To promote actions that celebrate diversity and inclusion, including critical analyses of policies and procedures that reflect racial disparities or disproportionate burdens on people of African descent; (h) To adopt legislation declaring organizations that promote and incite racial discrimination illegal, in conformity with article 4 of the International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination. The Working Group believes that freedom of expression is an important tenet of human rights that is not abridged by limiting hate speech and racist speech as a political act. In this regard, the Working Group calls for a recommitment of States to balance freedom of expression with the demands for racial equality; (i) To recognize people of African descent as a distinct group. This is essential to increase their visibility and foster their full realization of their human rights and fundamental freedoms. People of African descent must be recognized among others in national constitutions and legislation, through education, awareness-raising measures and respect for their cultural rights. Selfrecognition is also critical for people of African descent. In order to attain full recognition, data collection is crucial to confirm the presence, activities and overall situation of people of African descent; (j) To revise and develop specific curricula and corresponding teaching materials that respect and recognize history, including the transatlantic trade in enslaved Africans. Such curricula should be incorporated into formal and informal education at the early childhood, primary, secondary, post-secondary and adult education levels. People of African descent should have the opportunity to contribute to the development of such curricula; (k) To support and promote greater knowledge of and respect for the history of people of African descent. All students and teachers around the world should be taught about Africa and the history of the African diaspora, the nature and effects of colonialism and the transatlantic trade in enslaved Africans, African culture and the contribution of people of African descent to progress and to global economic development, especially that of Europe. This will promote the recognition of people of African descent as world actors; (l) To honour the memory of the victims of past tragedies, wherever and whenever they occurred, to condemn such tragedies and prevent their recurrence 19-13272 21/22