A/HRC/15/18 make first contact with immigrants of African descent. However, members of the group did not have the opportunity to see the practical implementation of these procedures. 60. Several NGOs raised the issue of a lack of recognition of the connection between the present situation of African Americans and the slavery past. They stressed that discrimination is addressed by the State in general terms, not as an issue of particular importance for people of African descent. Such an approach, according to them, undermines the question of reparations for slavery, is minimizing the effects of past and present segregation and leaves little space for discussions on the specific situation of people of African descent. One of the results of such an approach is the rejection of affirmative action as a tool to combat existing discrimination and the consequences of past discrimination. In several meetings it was stressed to the members that there is a lack of affirmative measures which take into consideration the specific roots and history of discrimination against people of African descent. The members were also informed in several meetings that while the Supreme Court has held that the use of quotas would be unconstitutional, other affirmative action measures are not prohibited when used to promote diversity. One NGO expressed its concern, however, that affirmative action programmes have been scaled back in recent years and that where they do exist they focus on access for people of African descent but do not provide adequate support once entrance is gained to a given institution or organization. 61. In several of the meetings that the members held with NGOs, it was emphasized that there was not a State institution dedicated to the situation of people of African descent and that such an institution could be beneficial to protecting and advancing the rights of this population and its integration. Although the different Government departments have programmes that attend to the African American population, it was suggested that a dedicated institution would assist in relevant policy formulation and enhance coordination between the various Government agencies that monitor the situation of, and provide services to, the African descendant population. This lacuna has contributed to a very passive attitude towards segregation and a lack of interest by the white majority for participating in the programmes for inclusion. It was emphasized by several NGOs that the dedicated institution should address the perception of people of African descent as criminal, combat the social and racial profiling of African Americans and reinvigorate the fight against the still very much present racist bias. 62. It was also suggested by several NGOs that the existing Commission on Civil Rights should be transformed into a Commission on Civil and Human Rights. This would allow the mandate of the Commission to include the international obligations of the United States and to cover the rights of non-citizens. C. Collection of disaggregated data on people of African descent 63. The members were impressed by the comprehensive structure that is in place in the United States for collecting and analyzing disaggregating data, including by race. This information has proven to be an important tool that the Government has used to identify racial disparities in access to employment, education, health and other fundamental rights and to design and implement policies to remedy the challenges identified. 64. The Department of Health and Human Services informed the members that it collects disaggregated data from over sixty sources on the health of different racial groups. These data are used to focus on trends and design programmes to address the particular health concerns of different communities. 65. The Equal Employment Opportunity Commission informed the members that they maintain data on all ethnic groups employed in companies of more than 100 employees and 16