A/HRC/37/77 more discriminated against, given that their gender acted as an additional and aggravating basis for discrimination. 33. Ms. Kaneza further noted that the launch of the Decade in Germany had led to a multi-stakeholder approach to address racism in the country. She noted that the Federal Anti-Discrimination Agency had participated in the launch of the Decade and that the German Institute for Human Rights continued to help monitor the situation of people of African descent. 34. Ms. Biekman reiterated that the effects of the transatlantic slave trade and slavery continued to manifest themselves today. She noted that colonialism had resulted in racism and that Africans and people of African descent continued to be the victims of its consequences, including social and economic inequality. She reiterated the need for the full and effective implementation of the Durban Declaration and Programme of Action. 35. Ms. Biekman stated that civil society organizations were a significant actor in the combat against racism and discrimination against people of African descent. She emphasized the need for civil society organizations to be well organized and to communicate clearly with Governments. 36. Ms. Ndiaye reiterated the importance of the Durban Declaration and Programme of Action in making it possible to understand the history of racism and providing possible solutions to the multifaceted problem. She made reference to paragraph 158 of the Durban Programme of Action, in which the World Conference against Racism, Racial Discrimination, Xenophobia and Related Intolerance had called for the facilitation of the welcomed return and resettlement of the descendants of enslaved Africans, stating that people of African descent should be granted the right and opportunity to return to a country of their choice on the continent and granted citizenship. 37. In the ensuing discussion, the representative of the European Union, supported by Germany, reiterated that civil society organizations were the driving force behind the implementation of the Decade and a key actor for change. She also reiterated the importance of portraying people of African descent in a positive light. 38. The representative of the United States reaffirmed the country’s efforts to guide the implementation of the International Decade for People of African Descent and its commitment to promoting the enjoyment of human rights, racial equality, religious freedom and social inclusion for people of African descent, both domestically and internationally. The representative highlighted the support of the United States for cultural educational initiatives and shared the most recent developments on promoting African-American culture. VI. Review of the progress achieved concerning the implementation of recommendations adopted by the Working Group at its previous session 39. The representative of the European Union stressed that the recommendations of the Working Group should be an end in themselves and that the low rate of feedback from Member States deserved reflection. She suggested that the reasons as to why there was such a low rate of feedback could relate to the number of recommendations or to whether they were sufficiently action-orientated. 40. She reminded participants of paragraph 61 (b) of the report on the fourteenth session of the Working Group, in which it had requested that the necessary arrangements be made to ensure that there was sufficient time between its sessions and those of the Human Rights Council to allow for better preparation and to ensure optimal participation. 41. The representative of Brazil noted that a review of the implementation of recommendations could be seen as a cross-cutting challenge to the Working Group. She suggested that the review should take place at the end of the session after all the thematic issues had been discussed. 6