A/HRC/24/52
United Nations
General Assembly
Distr.: General
15 July 2013
Original: English
Human Rights Council
Twenty-fourth session
Agenda item 9
Racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related
forms of intolerance, follow-up and implementation of
the Durban Declaration and Programme of Action
Report of the Working Group of Experts on People of
African Descent on its twelfth session*
(Geneva, 22–26 April 2013)
Chairperson-Rapporteur: Verene Shepherd
Summary
The main focus of the discussions during the twelfth session of the Working Group
of Experts on People of African Descent was the theme of “Recognition through Education,
Cultural Rights and Data Collection”. The Working Group acknowledged the importance
of the theme and urged the General Assembly to adopt and launch the International Decade
for People of African Descent in 2013 and consider in its deliberations the draft Programme
of Action for the Decade elaborated by the Working Group under the theme “Recognition,
Justice, Development”. The Working Group urged States to revise current curricula and
teaching materials and develop ones which respect and recognize the history of people of
African descent, including material on the transatlantic slave trade. States were also urged
to cooperate with the relevant United Nations agencies and bodies to promote and protect
the culture, identity, tangible and intangible heritage of the continent of Africa and people
of African descent in keeping with the Durban Declaration and Programme of Action. In
addition to adopting domestic legislation against racial discrimination, States were also
urged to collect, compile, analyse, disseminate and publish reliable and disaggregated
statistical data at the national and local levels with the explicit consent of the individuals
and groups that are victims of racial discrimination, based on their self-identification and in
accordance with provisions on human rights and fundamental freedoms, such as data
protection regulations and privacy guarantees. The Working Group reiterated its call for the
establishment of a permanent forum on people of African descent at the United Nations.
The present report is submitted in accordance with Human Rights Council resolutions 9/14
and 18/28.
* Annex II is reproduced as received, in the languages of submission only.
GE.13-15586