A/61/335 intellectual justification and promote the linkage between efforts to combat racism and xenophobia in all their forms and the construction of a democratic, egalitarian and interactive multiculturalism. 32. The Special Rapporteur also gave close attention to the discrimination suffered by autochthonous Amerindian populations and persons of African descent. In addition to the seminar mentioned in paragraph 22, he participated in the First European Conference on Anti-Black Racism, held in Geneva on 16 March 2006 under the auspices of the Swiss non-governmental organization Platform for Reflection and Action against Anti-Black Racism. Lilian Thuram, a member of the French football team who is particularly active in International Federation of Association Football (FIFA) efforts to combat racism, also participated. At the invitation of the Government of Brazil, the Special Rapporteur also participated in a workshop on racism at the Second Conference of Intellectuals from Africa and the Diaspora, held in Salvador, Bahia, Brazil, from 12 to 14 July 2006. The Special Secretariat of Policies for the Promotion of Racial Equality of the Government of Brazil also invited the Special Rapporteur to the Regional Conference of the Americas on the progress and challenges of the plan of action against racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance, held in Brasilia from 26 to 28 July 2006, and to its preparatory meeting in Montevideo, Uruguay, held from 26 to 28 June 2006. This conference, which gathered together 400 representatives of regional governments and civil society was the largest international meeting yet held for the implementation of the Durban Declaration and Programme of Action at the regional level. The Special Rapporteur believes that South America is currently the most highly mobilized region in respect of efforts to combat racism, owing to the leadership of Brazil in particular, the commitment of a growing number of political leaders and the active and solitary mobilization of communities that have traditionally suffered from discrimination, in particular indigenous communities and communities of African descent. In his address, the Special Rapporteur welcomed the progress that had been made on a draft inter-American convention against racism and all forms of discrimination and intolerance, and he emphasized the symbolic significance and scope of this major development. Indeed, any major breakthrough in the eradication of racism in South America, historically and geographically the scene of the systematic application of racism — the ideological pillar of the European slave system and colonization — will encourage efforts to combat racism and the implementation of the Durban Programme of Action in other regions of the world. 33. On 29 July 2006, following the Regional Conference of the Americas and in collaboration with the Office of the High Commissioner and the Government of Brazil, the Special Rapporteur organized an expert seminar on the issue of political platforms that incite racial discrimination. The discussions and conclusions of the seminar will be the basis of a report on the subject which will be submitted to the Human Rights Council at its fourth session in 2007, in accordance with Commission on Human Rights resolution 2005/36 of 19 April 2005. 34. Among other symposiums on the general upsurge in racism and xenophobia, the Special Rapporteur highlights the “End racism” debate, organized on 19 April 2006 in Geneva by the Swiss Youth Resources Centre on Human Rights, and the “Four continents symposium” organized by the African Centre for Sociocultural Development on 26 May 2006 at Neuchâtel, on the issue of integration in 06-51904 13