A/HRC/27/68
(q)
The potential discriminatory effects of domestic legislation are
eliminated, particularly of legislation on terrorism, immigration and nationality, as
well as legislation that has the effect of penalizing without legitimate grounds certain
groups or members of certain communities, including people of African descent, and
in any case, respecting the principle of proportionality in its application;
(r)
Measures are adopted to eliminate sociocultural ideologies inherited
from the slavery period, which perpetuate racism and racial discrimination against
people of African descent and their continued invisibility at all levels of society.
Programmes should be established to preserve knowledge of the culture and history of
people of African descent in museums and other forums for future generations, and
efforts made to encourage and support the publication and distribution of books and
other print materials, as well as the broadcasting of television and radio programmes,
about their history and cultures. States and civil society should work with the 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;
(s)
A greater knowledge of and respect for the heritage and culture of
people of African descent are adopted, particularly for children and youth, through
intercultural education and dialogue, awareness-raising and activities designed to
protect and promote African culture and African-descent culture in its various
manifestations. Specific plans must be in place for the ethnic recognition and visibility
of people of African descent. Measures should be adopted to preserve, protect and
restore traditional knowledge, and the intangible patrimony and spiritual memory of
sites and places of the slave trade and slave resistance;
(t)
The rights of children and youth of African descent are specifically
protected with regard to their identity, culture and language, particularly by
promoting culturally and linguistically sensitive education policies and programmes.
Measures should be adopted 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 slave trade, 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. Comprehensive curricula reform should also tackle all forms of
stereotypes;
(u)
Good practices of other countries and regions that have been able to
address the negative heritage of slavery and to build inclusive, multicultural and
multi-ethnic societies are shared and exchanged.
61.
The Working Group urges States to adopt national action plans against racial
discrimination which include special measures, based on disaggregated data, as
appropriate, to address structural discrimination against people of African descent,
taking into account general recommendation No. 32 (2009) on the meaning and scope
of special measures in the International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms
Racial Discrimination, adopted by the Committee on the Elimination of Racial
Discrimination.
62.
The Working Group reiterates its support for the implementation of the
Programme of Action for the International Decade for People of African Descent. The
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