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fundamental challenge to Goal 4, which aims at ensuring an inclusive and equitable
quality education for all. Intimately connected to the right to education is the right to
work. With poor educational outcomes at all levels in addition to racial
discrimination, people of African descent are unable to secure decent work.
61.
The Working Group regrets that people of African descent generally do not
enjoy peace and security because of structural discrimination endemic within the
criminal justice system. They do not have access to effective justice. They are
subjected to racial profiling and police violence and are disproportionately
incarcerated with impunity.
62.
The Working Group concludes that enslavement, colonial and post-colonial
injustices as well as constant struggles with structural racism, intolerance and
Afrophobia have had a direct influence on the health and well-being of people of
African Descent. Among many pivotal issues, special attention was given during the
session to challenges faced by people of African descent in the area of mental health
and the urgent need for adequate health care and support policies for people of
African descent.
63.
The Working Group welcomes the work of the Pan American Health
Organization in the field of health of people of African descent. The work is based on
an intercultural approach to health and equal treatment for the different groups from
the standpoint of mutual respect, recognizing the value of culture and the elements
that comprise it, including, among other things, lifestyles, value systems and
traditions. PAHO/WHO is working on the development of specific plans on the health
of people of African descent in the Latin American and Caribbean region.
64.
The role of civil society in the work of the Working Group remains critical. The
Working Group noted that civil society reported common manifestations of structural
racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia, Afrophobia and related intolerance faced
by people of African descent. The Working Group seeks to strengthen its engagement
with civil society to further enhance its work by exploring innovative ways, including
the use of modern technology, to allow wide participation of people of African descent.
65.
The International Decade for People of African Descent aims at raising the
issue of the historical, economic, political and cultural non-recognition of the people of
African descent who were victims of the transatlantic trade in enslaved Africans,
enslavement and colonialism. It also aims to deconstruct racism. The Decade offers
the possibility of bringing together States, civil society and multilateral institutions to
elaborate ways to effectively address the fundamental basis of knowledge and rights of
people of African descent. Agenda 2063: The Africa We Want, adopted by the African
Union and rooted in pan-Africanism and African renaissance, is also an important
reference in this regard.
66.
The Working Group will consider the development of operational guidelines
for use by stakeholders (Governments, the United Nations and civil society) on how to
prioritize people of African descent as a particularly discriminated-against group at
all stages of implementation of the Sustainable Development Goals. The Working
Group will advocate for: (a) special attention to the human rights situation of people
of African descent, based on an analysis of disparities and specific programmes of
action to address gaps and improve their human rights situation; and (b) the
designing of special projects, in collaboration with people of African descent and civil
society, to support their initiatives.
67.
The Working Group will continue to assist and facilitate the exchange of
information and to connect financial and development institutions with people of
African descent and civil society for this purpose. It will share its country visit reports
with development and financial institutions and request them to increase their efforts
and continue to assist Member States and people of African descent in the
implementation of its recommendations.
68.
The Working Group will consider contributing to a baseline study on data on
people of African descent, including the collection of disaggregated data in accordance
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