A/76/302 equality, has been taken up by athletes in soccer and basketball internationally. In the United States, the Women’s National Basketball Association has made the dema nd for social justice central to its public presence, including activities and clothing that declares, “Black Lives Matter”. E. Ongoing concerns: “If you don’t count us, we don’t count” 54. Several States have included categories of self-identification for these populations in national censuses, and wide-ranging studies and surveys on entrenched racial disparities have been conducted in Europe and in Latin America. 39 Where data exist, they have helped to highlight and address institutional racism and racial disparity. Where absent, the lack of data disaggregated by race is a significant factor concealing systemic discrimination faced by people of African descent. This was evident during the COVID-19 pandemic, when few States immediately publicized data disaggregated by race. Even States with a history of maintaining data disaggregated by race or facilitating racial self-identification in administrative data did not immediately maintain or reveal data based on race in the COVID -19 pandemic, often declining to do so altogether or eventually agreeing to civil society demands. This is particularly concerning in the light of the almost immediate evidence that the pandemic would, and did, disproportionately affect people of African descent worldwide. 55. Thus, in some States, a lack of disaggregated data and political will has made it challenging to ensure that development and reform efforts benefit people of African descent. For example, in Argentina, development for Afro-Argentinians outside of migrant populations has been compromised by their invisibility in political discourse and a lack of relevant data disaggregated by race. VI. Conclusions and recommendations 56. The Working Group thanks Member States, representatives of internationa l organizations and civil society for their active participation. The Working Group also thanks the invited guest speakers for their remarks and analysis. A. Conclusions 57. People of African descent have long navigated systemic racism and racial discrimination by governmental and non-governmental actors, despite commitments to equality. Urgent and collective action is therefore required to effectively address the root causes of inequality, inequity and impunity. Despite very different development and cultural contexts, people of African descent face common challenges worldwide, including racism and structural discrimination, as well as socioeconomic inequalities, exclusion, marginalization and injustice. While these are clearly legacies of the transatlantic trade in Africans and colonialism, they also reflect ongoing mindsets and pervasive present-day exploitation and expectation of impunity. 58. People of African descent are also socially positioned to experience multiple and intersectional forms of systemic oppression. Systems anchored in discriminatory practices systematically distribute resources, power and opportunities along racial lines, affecting the ability of people of African descent to fully and freely participate in society, governance and the economy. This also implicates the susceptibility of people of African descent to COVID-19. The COVID-19 pandemic has had a __________________ 39 21-11641 For more information on data for racial justice, see A/HRC/42/59. 17/22