A/HRC/15/18 United Nations General Assembly Distr.: General 6 August 2010 Original: English Human Rights Council Fifteenth 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* Visit to the United States of America (25 to 29 January 2010) Summary At the invitation of the Government of the United States of America, the Working Group of experts on people of African descent undertook an official visit to the United States of America from 25 to 29 January 2010. In the present report, the Working Group summarizes information received during the meetings it held with Government officials and civil society organizations regarding the general situation of people of African descent in the United States and the situations that expose them to discrimination and outlines the action taken at various levels for their well-being. It concludes with recommendations that the Working Group believes will, if implemented, make tangible improvements in the situation of people of African descent in the United States. The Working Group members appreciated the very informative and frank discussions they had with Government and civil society representatives and were impressed with the comprehensive way in which attention to the situation of people of African descent is contemplated in all of the Government’s programmes to ensure the fundamental rights of its citizens. Although the members identified challenges still facing African Americans, the various Government representatives with whom they met accepted that, as is the case in all societies, in some areas there are still barriers to the full enjoyment of rights and efforts are continuing to correct disparities and discrimination where they are found to exist. During their visit, the members of the Working Group found that the challenges faced by people of African descent in this country related mainly to disproportionately high levels of unemployment, generally lower income levels than the rest of the population, * GE.10-15297 Late submission.