A/HRC/16/64 B. Opening of the session 5. The United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, Navanethem Pillay, opened the first meeting of the eighth session on 11 October 2010. She recalled that 2011 will mark the tenth anniversary of the DDPA. She also noted that a number of steps had been taken to combat racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance, but that more efforts still needed to be undertaken to achieve the goals of the Durban Declaration and Programme of Action. She stressed that priority should be placed on national action plans. The High Commissioner noted that the themes of protection of children, migration and employment were on the agenda of the eighth session of the Working Group and that the eighth session also included a discussion on good practices put into place by States to end racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance. She encouraged States to propose effective and creative ideas to commemorate the tenth anniversary of the DDPA. Finally, the High Commissioner welcomed the discussion of structural discrimination that the Working Group would engage in, noting the importance of the collection of disaggregated data in identifying such discrimination. C. Election of the Chairperson-Rapporteur 6. At the first meeting, on 11 October 2010, Mohamed Siad Douale, Permanent Representative of Djibouti to the United Nations, was elected Chairman-Rapporteur by acclamation. Mr. Douale reiterated his strong commitment to the fight against racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance. D. Adoption of the agenda and programme of work 7. During its first meeting, the Working Group adopted the agenda for its eighth session (A/HRC/16/WG.3/1, see annex II) and its programme of work (see annex III), which was slightly modified during the following days to accommodate changes in the timing of the meetings. The Working Group held its last meeting on Friday afternoon, 22 October 2010. III. Statements 8. The European Union paid tribute to the work of the High Commissioner, the Secretariat and Mr. Douale and emphasized that the DDPA is a cornerstone of the global fight against racial discrimination. The European Union reaffirmed that it was determined to continue its efforts in implementing the agreed principles and operational recommendations of the DDPA. 9. Costa Rica, speaking on behalf of the Group of Latin American and Caribbean States, recalled that the fight against discrimination remained a priority. It called on the Working Group to engage efficiently in the combat against racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance and reaffirmed the necessity of coordinating with other human rights institutions to achieve the goals of the DDPA. 10. Finally, Nigeria, speaking on behalf of the African Group, recalled that the DDPA constituted a comprehensive action-oriented document that embodied the commitment of the international community to combat racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance. Nigeria noted, however, that effective practical steps and measures still needed to be taken by States towards achieving the goals enshrined in the DDPA. Nigeria reiterated the strong commitment of the African Group to implement the DDPA. 5