A/69/318 31. Despite the diversity of situations and experiences of people of African descent, 2 there are several common human rights concerns that need to be addressed. These include racism and structural and institutional discrimination, which are evident in the marginalization and inequality faced by people of African descent. This is confirmed in indicators of poverty, poor living conditions, low levels of political participation, barriers in access to quality education and labour markets, overrepresentation in prison populations, high rates of imprisonment, discrimination in access to justice and limited social recognition of the ethnic and cultural diversity of people of African descent. The effects of multiple forms of discrimination on women, children, young people, migrants and refugees of African descent as well as other particularly vulnerable groups is also noted. Furthermore, the invisibility of people of African descent through lack of statistical data and li mited recognition of histories, heritage and contribution to development is a concern. 32. The Working Group believes that the Decade for People of African Descent will contribute to achieving equality and non-discrimination and strengthening the rule of law and democracy. Further efforts are needed by States to protect people of African descent from racial discrimination and to ensure their equal enjoyment of all human rights. As such, the Working Group calls upon all relevant actors to work together at the national, regional and international levels to make the Decade effective. Draft programme of action for the Decade 33. In accordance with General Assembly resolution 66/144, the Working Group elaborated a draft programme of action for the Decade for People of African Descent and proposed a theme for the Decade (see A/HRC/21/60/Add.2). The report on its eleventh session (A/HRC/21/60), the main focus of which was the draft programme of action, was adopted by the Human Rights Council (see resolution 21/33 of 28 September 2012) and transmitted to the General Assembly. 34. The General Assembly, in its resolution 68/237, noted with appreciation the work undertaken by the Working Group in producing a draft programme of action that was comprehensive and covered a wide range of areas that could serve as a broad framework for the International Decade for People of African Descent. 35. The draft programme of action proposed by the Working Group is firmly anchored in the Durban Declaration and Programme of Action, the outcome document of the Durban Review Conference, the political declaration of the high level meeting of the General Assembly to commemorate the tenth anniversary of the Durban Declaration and Programme of Action (General Assembly resolution 66/3) and the International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination. It is based on contributions received from Member States and other stakeholders, as well as comments made during the eleventh session o f the Working Group. 36. In its report on its eleventh session, the Working Group gave an overview of the current human rights situation and the challenges faced by people of African descent, strengthening the rationale for the Decade. It proposed “recogn ition, justice and development” as a theme for the Decade. “Recognition” refers to the __________________ 2 14-59293 The Working Group defines people of African descent as those referred to as such in the Durban Declaration and Programme of Action and those who self-identify as being of African descent. 9/22