A/HRC/10/66
page 19
119. The Working Group urges States to adopt special measures that address problems
regarding access to education faced by children of African descent. The Working Group
particularly underlines the obligation to provide free primary education as stipulated in
the Convention on the Rights of the Child. The Working Group furthermore urges States
to give particular attention to victims of racism while designing policies to attain the
Millennium Development Goals.
120. The Working Group urges States to adopt special measures to address the problem of
violence faced by children of African descent, in line with the provisions contained within
the Convention on the Rights of the Child.
121. The Working Group calls upon States to ensure that children and youths are not held
in detention centres where adults are held or given adult sentences, as this situation
particularly affects children and youths of African descent. The Working Group also calls
upon States to develop and implement a community-based restorative justice approach
that ensures positive outcomes for youths and children of African descent.
122. The Working Group urges States to address disparities in healthcare delivery systems
that may exist between children of African descent and the rest of the population. States
should adopt special measures to address disadvantages faced by children of African
descent regarding access to health care, in line with the provisions contained within the
Convention on the Rights of the Child.
123. Underlining its importance in understanding the situation of children of African
descent, the Working Group reiterates its recommendation that States implement
mechanisms whereby disaggregated information may be effectively collected on health,
education, access to housing, employment, treatment in the criminal justice system and
political participation and representation of people of African descent. The Working
Group, furthermore, requests OHCHR to assist it in holding an expert seminar to establish
guidelines on the collection and dissemination of disaggregated data and guidelines for the
creation of a Racial Equality Index.
124. Taking into account the often negative image of children and youths of African
descent that is portrayed in the media, the Working Group reiterates its recommendation
that, in association with the International Federation of Journalists, a code of conduct be
drawn up that, while taking into account such fundamental issues as the right to freedom
of expression, combats racial discrimination against people of African descent by
elaborating standards that must be adhered to so as to eliminate the projection and
perpetuation, through the traditional media and new technologies, of negative images and
stereotypes of Africa and people of African descent. The Working Group, furthermore,
calls upon States to develop and implement an information and education campaign to
combat negative stereotyping of children and youths of African descent.
125. As a measure to address discrimination faced by children of African descent, the
Working Group reiterates its recommendation that States and international and regional
organizations establish independent bodies, where they do not already exist, to receive
complaints by people of African descent of discrimination in accessing housing, education,
health, employment and other fundamental rights.