A/74/215 31. Another important aspect of the Sustainable Development Goals is the strong emphasis on collecting disaggregated data. For example, target 17.18 of the Sustainable Development Goals, to, by 2020, enhance capacity-building support to increase significantly the availability of high-quality, timely and reliable data disaggregated by income, gender, race, ethnicity, migr atory status, disability, geographical location and other characteristics relevant in national contexts, could include religious and linguistic minority groups and caste or descent -based groups. Member States should incorporate a minority rights framework into their national action plans for the implementation of the Goals, both to achieve the Goals and to ensure that no one is left behind. III. Selected key areas of action 32. During the reporting period, various activities were undertaken by Member States, OHCHR, the special procedures mandate holders and other relevant stakeholders to support the implementation of the Declaration and ensure the realization of the rights of persons belonging to national or ethnic, religious and linguistic minority groups. Below is a summary on selected key areas of action, which illustrates efforts being deployed to counter violations of the rights of minority groups. In that connection, the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights has on a number of occasions noted with alarm the rise in incidents involving intercommunal, inter-ethnic and race-related violence, as well as attacks against minority groups in various countries. The country situations in which hate speech and incitement to hatred on the basis of religion and/or race have become rampant are very troubling, and, although it is clear that fair and equal treatment of minority groups is a prerequisite for a just and peaceful society, disturbing allegations of systematic violations against them continue in many countries across the globe. 33. The International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination 11 is commemorated on 21 March each year. In 2018 and 2019, the Internation al Day was marked by several United Nations human rights experts calling upon States, civil society organizations and activists to deploy more effort to confront the rise in racism, xenophobia and the resurgence of neo-Nazism worldwide. 12 In that connection, the important role that minority young people can play as agents of change for peace and stability is clear, and their participation in conflict prevention and peacebuilding efforts cannot be overstated. OHCHR has therefore been placing its focus on yout h by organizing various activities with a view to bringing them to the forefront to play leading roles in encouraging compliance with international human rights law and standards and preventing incitement to ethnic and religious hatred, which could lead to violent extremism (see A/HRC/40/30). 34. Efforts to counter those trends also include the request made by the General Assembly to Member States to consider drafting a United Nations declaration on the promotion and full respect of the human rights of people of African descent. The United Nations strategy and plan of action on combating hate speech offers concrete ways in which the United Nations, in collaboration with States, civil society, the private sector and other partners, can address hate speech around the world while upholding freedom of opinion and expression. __________________ 11 12 10/15 OHCHR, “‘Unashamed bigotry’: Rise in racism and xenophobia is alarming, say UN rights experts”, press release, 21 March 2018. Available at www.ohchr.org/SP/NewsEvents/Pages/ DisplayNews.aspx?NewsID=22862. Video statement of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights to the United Nations Forum on Minority Issues, 29 November 2018. Available at www.ohchr.org/EN/NewsEvents/Pages/DisplayNews.aspx?NewsID=23949&LangID=E. 19-12558