A/HRC/23/19 136. 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. 137. 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. 138. 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, subregional and non-governmental organizations to take preventive measures such as awareness-raising campaigns and training activities. 139. 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 Durban Declaration and Programme of Action. 140. 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 – European Union 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. 141. The Working Group encourages all regional organizations, including the African Union and the European Union, to cooperate on the implementation of the Durban Declaration and Programme of Action as well as the Durban Review outcome document and to generally accommodate participation of civil society groups. 142. The Working Group emphasizes the role that regional and international cooperation can have on the advancement of the full and effective implementation of the Durban Declaration and Programme of Action, and encourages the establishment at the regional level of mechanisms dealing with racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance. 143. The Working Group welcomes the establishment of the rapporteurship of the rights of Afro descendants against racial discrimination by the Organization of American States. 144. The Working Group takes note with interest of the ongoing process in the Organization of American States 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 subregional 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. 20