E/CN.4/2006/19 page 24 Annex III Future modalities of action of the Working Group of Experts on People of African Descent – programme of work I. The mandate of the Working Group on People of African Descent 1. Paragraph 7 of the Durban Programme of Action requested the “Commission on Human Rights to consider establishing a working group or other mechanism of the United Nations to study the problems of racial discrimination faced by people of African descent living in the African diaspora and make proposals for the elimination of racial discrimination against people of African descent. As a follow- up to this recommendation, the Commission on Human Rights established the Working Group of Experts on People of African Descent, composed of five members. 2. The mandate of the Working Group is spelled out in Commission on Human Rights resolution 2002/68, paragraph 8, and further expanded in resolution 2003/30, paragraphs 24-25. According to these two resolutions respectively, the Group is expected to: (a) Study the problems of racial discrimination faced by people of African descent living in the Diaspora and to this end gather all relevant information from Governments, nongovernmental organizations and other relevant sources, including through holding public meetings with them; (b) Propose measures to ensure full and effective access to the justice system by people of African descent; (c) Submit recommendations on the design, implementation and enforcement of effective measures to eliminate racial profiling of people of African descent; (d) Elaborate short-medium-and long-term proposals for the elimination of racial discrimination against people of African descent, bearing in mind the need for close collaboration with international and development institutions and the specialized agencies of the United Nations system to promote the human rights of people of African descent, inter alia through: (i) Improving the human rights situation of people of African descent by devoting special attention to their needs, inter alia through the preparation of specific programmes of action; (ii) Designing special projects, in collaboration with people of African descent, to support their initiatives at the community level and to facilitate the exchange of information and technical know-how between these populations and experts in these areas; (iii) Developing programmes intended for people of African descent, allocating additional investments to health systems, education, housing, electricity, drinking