A/HRC/34/21 Arab Republic). The event was moderated by the cartoonist Patrick Chapatte (Switzerland). These cartoons served as the basis for a panel discussion on the role of visual art in the promotion and protection of minorities. 27. Efforts are being made by different parts of the United Nations and Governments to counter extremism and violence against minorities, and it must be acknowledged that every effort to promote understanding helps ensure that the situation does not worsen. It is clear, however, that much more needs to be done to protect minorities. Hence, conveying public messages anchored in our commonalities instead of our differences can serve to dilute prejudices and draw attention to the contributions of diversity. III. United Nations network on racial discrimination and protection of minorities 28. In order to enhance the combined impact of the work of the United Nations system in this area, the Secretary-General, on 6 March 2012, established the United Nations network on racial discrimination and protection of minorities. A four-year action plan was developed in 2013 to support the network in achieving the full aims of the guidance note. 29. To take stock of the recent strategies deployed to use the action plan to achieve those aims, network members held a meeting in October 2016. Discussions also revolved around the end of the four-year implementation period in 2017. In addition, the meeting provided a forum for an update on and overview of the International Decade for People of African Descent. 30. In 2016, as coordinator of the United Nations network, OHCHR finalized the development of a guidance tool on descent-based discrimination that takes into consideration the key challenges and strategic approaches involved in combating castebased and analogous forms of discrimination. A launch event, to be held to design strategies for strengthening advocacy efforts and thus to promote and protect rights, is planned for early 2017. IV. Human Rights Council and its mechanisms A. Special procedures 1. Thematic rapporteurs 31. In March 2016, the Special Rapporteur on minority issues presented her annual thematic report (A/HRC/31/56), which dealt with minorities and discrimination based on caste and analogous systems of inherited status, to the Human Rights Council at its thirtyfirst session. 32. The Special Rapporteur identified a number of areas of particular concern in relation to caste and analogous systems: the right to life and physical integrity, access to justice and policing, the right to political participation, freedom of religion or belief, the right to work, intersectionality between caste and contemporary forms of slavery, the right to housing and the right to water and sanitation, the right to health, the right to education and humanitarian assistance. In particular, she highlighted the situation of caste-affected women and girls, as caste is a factor that leads to multiple and intersecting forms of discrimination, and women and girls from low castes are particularly vulnerable to violation and denial of their rights. The Special Rapporteur also recommended initiatives and good practices to address castebased discrimination. They included the focus by the United Nations system, including human rights treaty bodies and special procedures, on caste-based and similar forms of 8