A/HRC/54/71 to the criminal system but that extends to the civil and administrative sectors. One of the participants also highlighted the work of the Working Group in addressing the delicate balance between freedom of expression and systemic discrimination and hate speech. Several speakers highlighted the work of the experts on the issue of reparations for people of African Descent and the reality of intersectionality. They reiterated the call made by the Working Group in its reports for stronger policies and action to address systemic discrimination. Speakers highlighted the need for policy and legislative framework that ensures the government’s obligation to address systemic anti-Black racism. 25. Civil society highlighted the positive impact of the Working Group’s country visits reports and noted the positive engagement of governments with the Working Group and called for a follow-up to that dialogue and efforts as well as to the recommendations made in the reports. The reports create opportunities to put governments on notice of the issues affecting people of African descent in the specific national contexts. The Working Group’s recommendations have been used as an umbrella to create a national policy recommendation as a means to assess the government’s actions in addressing the protection of human rights of people of African Descent. 26. Regarding the relationship between civil society and the Working Group stressed the importance of continuing collaboration emphasizing the intergeneration nature of the issues and the inclusive approach of the Working Group. One of the speakers suggested the formation of a Council of Elders of People of African Descent to complement the focus on youth and to ensure wisdom and experience of the older generation is documented and passed on. 27. Civil society groups spoke about the positive impact of sharing reports online. They noted that it allows individuals to engage with the content at their own pace, share it and use it for advocacy and projects. Speaking on the Working Group’s sessions, participants highlighted the opportunity the sessions provide to share findings and recommendations with people of African descent across the globe and receive expert feedback and advice. They however noted the need for sessions to be more inclusive and suggested they be held elsewhere. On the issue of inclusiveness, the lack of interpretation in Portuguese was highlighted given the number of participants of the Lusophone community. One of the speakers noted the exodus of youth from the African continent which he believed should be addressed alongside the fight against racism, systemic racism, and racial profiling. 28. Some speakers welcomed the insistence of the Working Group in requesting States to collect disaggregated data and encouraged the Working Group to continue their advocacy on this important issue. 26 GE.23-15301