Background

Further to operative paragraph 13 of Human Rights Council resolution 51/32 which “[r]equests the Working Group of Experts on People of African Descent to submit a report to the Human Rights Council at its fifty-fourth session, reviewing the work it has carried out in the 20 years since its establishment and including conclusions and recommendations on how to address more efficiently the human rights concerns of people of African descent”,  the Working Group invites  all interested stakeholders to contribute and share relevant updates, including specific examples, on laws, jurisprudence, programmes, policies, action plans and good practices in addressing the human rights concerns of people of African Descent stemming directly or indirectly from the work of the Working Group of Experts on People of African Descent including implementation of its thematic or country specific recommendations (see comprehensive list of thematic reports at https://www.ohchr.org/en/special-procedures/wg-african-descent/annual-reports). The information may also include updates, examples and good practices as a result or outcome of the Working Group’s other activities including public sessions, country visits, operational guidelines on inclusion of people of African descent in the 2030 Agenda, technical visits,  communications addressed to States or other entities, Amicus Curiae, press releases, input, advocacy, participation in events or other action.

Objectives

This report will take stock of all the achievements of the 20 years of work of the mandate. It will also provide an opportunity to reflect on the growth and substantive achievements of the mandate to date as well as the challenges and what is needed to continue the work and effectively discharge this important mandate entrusted by the Human Rights Council.

The Working Group of Experts on People of African Descent is eager to consult a wide range of stakeholders, including States, United Nations agencies, funds and programmes, other international and regional organizations, national human rights institutions, civil society organizations and private sectors entities, academia and other experts in order to benefit from their views and contributions.

In preparation of the report, the Working Group will also address individual Governments, civil society and national human rights institutions in relation to country visits to request their feedback on the status of implementation of its country specific recommendations. Stakeholders are also invited to provide input on the effectiveness of  country visits as well as of technical visits.

The Working Group will also devote attention to the impact of the communications sent to Governments, including:

• The impact of the communication in the case addressed;
• Any updated information on the case;
• Information on how the communication was useful, including for example in cases at court, amicus briefs, awareness raising, among others.