conclusions and recommendations on Item 6

Discussion on the Enhancement of International and Regional Cooperation with Regard to the Implementation of the DDPA

The Working Group underlines the importance of international and regional cooperation and encourages Member States to enhance and deepen their  cooperation in the full and effective implementation of DDPA.
The Working Group recognizes the importance of cooperation among States, relevant international and regional organizations, the international financial institutions, non-governmental organizations and individuals in the worldwide fight against racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance, and that success in this fight requires specifically taking into consideration the grievances, opinions and demands of the victims of such discrimination.
The Working Group further recognizes the important role that relevant regional bodies, including regional associations of national human rights institutions, can play in combating racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance, and the key role they can play in monitoring and raising awareness about intolerance and discrimination at the regional level, and reaffirm support for such bodies where they exist, and encourages their establishment.
The Working Group believes that racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance, including their contemporary forms and manifestations,  may endanger international peace and security and encourages in this respect international, regional, sub-regional and non-governmental organizations to take preventive measures such as awareness raising campaigns and training activities.  
The Working Group thanks participants of regional organizations who attended the session and takes note of their presentations, as those presentations contribute to the effective implementation of the DDPA.
The Working Group welcomes the outcome of the joint workshop organized by the African Union and the European Union, within the framework of the Africa – EU Strategic partnership on human rights and democracy in Geneva on 5 June 2012, which among others included a commitment by the regional bodies to intensify cooperation in general and on the issue of racism, racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance, including also through the organization of other seminars and interactions with the aim to generate common ideas, initiatives as well as exchanges of experience in the fight against racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance.
The Working Group encourages all regional organizations, including the African Union and the European Union, to cooperate on the implementation of the DDPA as well as the Durban Review outcome document and to generally accommodate participation of civil society groups.
The Working Group emphasizes the role that regional and international cooperation  can have on the advancement of the full and effective implementation of the DDPA, and encourages the establishment at the regional level of  mechanisms dealing with racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance.
The Working Group welcomes the establishment of the rapporteurship of the rights of Afro descendants against racial discrimination by the Organization of American States.
The working Group takes note with interest of the ongoing process in the OAS aiming at drafting a regional instrument with respect to racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related  discrimination and intolerance and within this context, encourages other regional and sub-regional organizations that have not yet done so, to consider adopting instruments or texts on the prohibition, prevention and combating of racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance.
The working Group encourages the OHCHR, within existing resources, international, regional, sub-regional and civil society organizations, to cooperate and plan joint activities relating to the advancement of the full and effective implementation of the DDPA with a view of improving the capacity of such organizations in this regard.
The Working Group encourages international, regional, sub-regional and non-governmental organizations to cooperate, including through joint efforts and the utilization of their networks with a view of a wide dissemination of the DDPA and the prevention and combating of racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance.
The Working Group recognizes the important contribution of reliable data in the fight against racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance, and encourages in this respect international, regional, sub-regional and non-governmental organizations which already have or undertake to acquire reliable and/or disaggregated data, to collaborate in the sharing of information and strategies in the fight against racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance.
The Working Group encourages international and regional organizations to cooperate and coordinate efforts with a view of sharing experiences in areas such as anti-racism legislations, transposition of relevant international provisions into national laws, juridical practices, strategies and public policies in the fight against racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance.
The Working Group takes note with interest of the initiative launched by UNESCO regarding the international coalition of cities against racism and discrimination and encourages international and regional organizations to initiate such projects with a view of involving relevant entities at the national level in the implementation of the DDPA.
The Working Group calls on Cities around the world to consider joining this coalition and urges UNESCO to consider ways and means of strengthening the participation of interested civil society organizations.
The Working Group reiterates the important role that parliaments can play in the fight against racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance. The Working Group requests the OHCHR to cooperate with the Inter Parliamentary Union, including through the utilization of its network with a view of raising awareness about and wide dissemination of the DDPA.
The Working Group reiterates the important role of National Human Rights Institutions and specialized bodies in the implementation of the DDPA, and requests OHCHR to cooperate with the International Coordinating Committee of NHRIs (ICC) and use their regional networks to sensitize and raise awareness about the significance and importance of the DDPA and its full and effective implementation.
The Working Group reiterates the important role of NGOs in the struggle against racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance and encourages the establishment, where appropriate,  of networks of non-governmental organizations against racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance.
The Working Group takes notes that UN General Assembly resolution 67/455 requests the President of the General Assembly  in consultation with member states, relevant UN programmes and organizations and civil society to launch an informal consultative preparatory process for the proclamation of the International Decade of People of African Descent, with the theme, “People of African Descent: Recognition, Justice and Development”, with a view to proclaiming the Decade in 2013 and notes the work of the WGPAD, pursuant to the provisions of paragraph 61 of UNGA resolution 66/134 of December 2011.