A/70/255 drafting committee in integrating international human rights standards and principles into the draft constitution. In addition, OHCHR worked closely with civil society, including those working on minority issues, in order to mobilize supp ort for human rights provisions in the draft constitution. As a result of extensive consultations facilitated by OHCHR and involving some 650 organizations (including organizations working on minority rights and other human rights issues), civil society organizations agreed on a draft bill of rights to be used as an advocacy tool during the public discussions on the draft constitution. The document contained 13 principles and 60 recommendations, including on minority rights. 24. The human rights monitoring mission in Ukraine, deployed in March 2014, has also continuously paid close attention to the rights of persons belonging to minorities, including in its regular human rights reports. For example, in February 2015 the mission reported that although incidents of violent attacks against minorities remained rare, it had continued receiving reports of alleged discrimination against Roma and of targeting religious minorities in the areas controlled by armed groups. It also noted a continuing deterioration of the human rights situation for some Crimean Tatars in the Autonomous Republic of Crimea, in particular political and human rights activists and community leaders. 25. The human rights situation concerning people of African descent was a major focus of the work of the United Nations during the reporting period. In its resolution 68/237, the General Assembly proclaimed 2015-2024 as the International Decade for People of African Descent, and in its resolution 69/16 the Assembly appointed the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights to act as the coordinator of the Decade. In addition to its preparations for the Decade, OHCHR implemented a fellowship programme for people of African descent and supported related mechanisms. A range of activities was also undertaken at the country level, including in the Plurinational State of Bolivia, where OHCHR delivered technical assistance to Afro-Bolivian organizations and the Ministry of Education and facilitated the participation of those organizations in the first re gular session of the national committee against racism and all forms of discrimination. III. United Nations network on racial discrimination and protection of minorities 26. On the occasion of the twentieth anniversary of the Declaration, the SecretaryGeneral established the United Nations network on racial discrimination and protection of minorities. The network, which is coordinated by OHCHR, brings together relevant United Nations departments, agencies, funds and programmes to stimulate cooperation and to enhance the impact of the work of the United Nations in relation to combating racial discrimination and the protection of minorities, both at headquarters and in the field. 27. In March 2013, the Secretary-General endorsed a guidance note, prepared by the network, on how to address racial discrimination and ensure the protection of minorities consistent with human rights standards and practice. In April 2014, the network adopted a four-year action plan to follow up on the recommendations contained in the guidance note and launched the first activities envisaged in the action plan. The network contributed to the work of United Nations mechanisms dealing with minority issues, and the capacity of the United Nations, national 15-12580 7/14