A/HRC/24/52 Descent and hoped that the process would contribute to adding value and delivering concrete improvements in the fight against racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance. V. Presentation and adoption of the methods of work of the Working Group 45. Under agenda item 7, Ms. Shepherd proceeded to present the methods of work of the Working Group. The methods of work take into account the specific features of the terms of reference of the Working Group under Commission on Human Rights resolutions 2002/68 and 2003/30 and Human Rights Council resolutions 9/14 and 18/28. Ms. Shepherd highlighted the major aspects of the methods of work, including the procedure for the election of the Chairperson and the duration of that officer’s mandate, the modalities of its country visits and procedures for receiving communications (allegation letters and urgent appeals) on alleged serious human rights violations. The methods of work were formally approved by the members of the Working Group. VI. Conclusions and recommendations 46. The International Decade for People of African Descent is a timely and important endeavour. The momentum that has been gathering speed since the World Conference against Racism, Racial Discrimination, Xenophobia and Related Intolerance in Durban in 2001, the tenth anniversary of the Durban Declaration and the Programme of Action and the International Year in 2011 must be maintained and reinforced. The Decade will be an opportunity to ensure the effective implementation of the crucial provisions laid out in the International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination and the Durban Declaration and Programme of Action, and thus the realization of full and effective equality for people of African descent. Therefore, the Working Group invites the General Assembly to adopt and launch the International Decade for People of African Descent in 2013, and consider in its deliberations the Draft Programme of Action for the Decade drawn up by the Working Group under the theme “People of African Descent: Recognition, Justice, Development”. 47. Owing to the special and unique nature of discrimination often faced by people of African descent, particularly that related to the legacies of colonialism, slavery and the transatlantic slave trade, the Working Group deems it appropriate to make a careful distinction between their situation and that of other groups who face racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance. It also sees the need to construct and delineate specific juridical categories that make it possible to address their needs adequately and overcome the obstacles they face. Therefore, in line with a recommendation from the Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination, the Working Group recommends the elaboration of a United Nations Declaration on the Promotion and Protection of the Human Rights of People of African Descent, as one of the main objectives of the Decade. 48. The Working Group of Experts at its twelfth session decided to start implementing the Programme of Action for the Decade, which was presented at the Human Rights Council at its twenty-first session and welcomed thereby in resolution 21/33. The theme for the Decade as proposed by the Working Group is “Recognition, Justice, Development”, therefore the thematic focus of the twelfth session was recognition through education, cultural rights and data collection. 12