A/RES/58/160 25. Emphasizes that, in accordance with the Durban Declaration and Programme of Action, States have a shared responsibility, at the international level and within the framework of the United Nations system, to determine modalities for the overall review of the implementation of the Declaration and Programme of Action; 26. Stresses and reaffirms its role as the highest intergovernmental mechanism for the formulation and appraisal of policy on matters related to the economic, social and related fields, in accordance with Chapter IX of the Charter of the United Nations, including in the comprehensive implementation of and follow-up to the goals and targets set at all the major United Nations conferences, summits and special sessions; 27. Acknowledges that the outcome of the World Conference against Racism, Racial Discrimination, Xenophobia and Related Intolerance is on an equal footing with the outcomes of all the major United Nations conferences, summits and special sessions in the human rights and social fields; 28. Invites all relevant organs, organizations and bodies of the United Nations system to become involved in the follow-up to the World Conference against Racism, Racial Discrimination, Xenophobia and Related Intolerance, and invites specialized agencies and related organizations of the United Nations system to strengthen and adjust, within their respective mandates, their activities, programmes and medium-term strategies to take into account the follow-up to the Conference; 29. Invites all human rights treaty-monitoring bodies and all mechanisms and subsidiary bodies of the Commission on Human Rights to consider the relevant provisions of the Durban Declaration and Programme of Action in the discharge of their respective mandates; 30. Reaffirms that the Economic and Social Council shall oversee the system-wide coordination of the implementation of the Durban Declaration and Programme of Action; 31. Takes note of the recommendations adopted by consensus by the Intergovernmental Working Group on the Effective Implementation of the Durban Declaration and Programme of Action at its first session, on 21 March 2003; 8 32. Notes that the Working Group will continue its future sessions on the basis of the thematic approach adopted during its first session, and notes with appreciation that to this end the next session of the Working Group, which the representative of Chile has expressed interest in chairing, will analyse the themes relating to poverty eradication and education; 33. Also notes the convening of the sessions of the Working Group of Experts on People of African Descent, the renewal of its mandate and the adjustments effected thereto; 34. Welcomes the inaugural session of the group of independent eminent experts, held at Geneva from 16 to 18 September 2003, with the participation of representatives of Member States, the United Nations system and civil society, takes note of its substantive outcome, and in this context requests the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights to examine the possibility of the development of a racial equality index, as proposed by the group of independent eminent experts, and to report thereon to the Commission on Human Rights; _______________ 8 6 See E/CN.4/2003/20, sect. III, para. 33.