A/HRC/14/18 believed the International Year could generate positive momentum for concrete steps to improve respect for the rights of people of African descent. Against that background, GRULAC would carefully examine any proposals put forward by the Working Group. 91. One NGO observer pointed out that the International Year for People of African Descent coincided with the tenth anniversary of the World Conference against Racism, Racial Discrimination, Xenophobia and Related Intolerance. He noted that the right to memory (devoir de mémoire) was essential for the liberation of people of African descent. One way of realizing that was through the rehabilitation of historic sites connected with the slave trade. Another way could be the opening of archives on slavery in different countries. Historians and experts from Africa and from the diaspora could be encouraged to work together on projects of that nature. The observer also called for the involvement of UNESCO and civil society in the endeavour. 92. Several suggestions were made for the date of an international day for people of African descent, many suggesting that it be connected with the contribution of Haiti to defeating slavery and advancing human rights. One observer proposed that the General Assembly adopt a resolution recognizing the contribution of the Haitian revolution to outlawing racism and to advancing human rights in general. 93. An NGO observer proposed “Restoring dignity and memory” as the theme of the International Year and called for engaging with the UNESCO Slave Route Project. She also called on national parliaments to adopt a declaration on the occasion of the International Year, a proposal supported by Ms. Sahli, who suggested that parliaments could adopt legislation to commemorate the slave trade. 94. It was stated by one NGO observer that the term “people of African descent” had a negative connotation because of the word “descent”, which implied a downward spiral. Another observer expressed the view that the denomination “Africans” was more appropriate. A brief discussion ensued with the members of the Working Group who indicated that while they were sympathetic to any feelings the term might spark and that anthropologists could examine the question of self-image through terminology further, at the end of the day the denomination was an etymological question – in French the term used was “ascendance,” the exact opposite of descent. In addition, the term had acquired its legitimacy through the Durban documents and was now generally accepted in the international legal framework. Last, but not least, the term “descent” as a prohibited ground of discrimination, could be qualified as racial or social, was subject to a general comment by the Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination and thus part of a larger framework. 95. A number of observers noted that collaboration and coordination among international bodies was critical to the success of the International Year. Mr. Makanaky suggested that the United Nations Research Institute for Social Development could start a series of long-term research projects to deliver data for decision-makers; UNESCO could assist States and academia in setting up programmes that would connect the African diaspora with the African continent; WHO could sponsor regional initiatives to address challenges faced by people of African descent in the area of health; ILO could conduct a survey on discrimination against people of African descent at work; the United Nations Development Programme, as the coordinator of the United Nations family, could follow up on initiatives decided by the Working Group. 96. Mr. Murillo, a member of the Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination, thanked all States that had promoted the International Year and GRULAC in particular. He reported that the original idea had been to declare a decade for people of African descent. But the expert expressed his hope that the International Year could still lead to the proclamation of such a decade. He then summarized some of the proposals 15