A/HRC/13/26 overcome differences in the curtailment of freedom of speech to protect individuals and groups from hate speech, and provided a vision to take the struggle against racism, discrimination and intolerance forward. I observed that while some progress has been made since the adoption of the Durban Declaration and Programme of Action, new challenges to the principles of equality and non-discrimination have appeared. These include the convergence of the global food crisis and the economic and financial crisis and their disproportionate impact on the most vulnerable; the intensification of hate speech against racial, ethnic, religious minorities; extreme xenophobic reactions against migrants; the political exploitation of real and perceived differences; and some counter-terrorism measures. 51. Parallel to the Durban Review Conference, 44 side events were organized, 3 of which were initiatives of other United Nations entities. These events contributed substantively to the discussion of ways to combat racism and will be compiled in an OHCHR publication. 52. Following the Durban Review Conference, I established an in-house Task Force whose primary task is to advise me on the best strategy to implement the recommendations of both the Durban Declaration and Programme of Action and the Outcome Document effectively. The Task Force recommended the intensification of focus on: supporting postDurban mechanisms; the development of a database and policy tools for the Office; the development of a programme of capacity-building focusing on, among others issues, supporting Member States, at their request to create adequate anti-discrimination legislation and national action plans; and public sensitization and constituency mobilization. Additional resources will be required if the Durban Declaration and Programme of Action and the Outcome Document are to be fully implemented. 53. Following the Conference, OHCHR conducted a number of activities aimed at the implementation of the Durban recommendations. Continued support was given to the sessions of the intergovernmental working group and the Ad Hoc Committee for the elaboration of complementary standards. Seminars were also convened in francophone Africa and Latin America to train stakeholders on strategies for developing national action plans and promoting good practices. VI. Support for human rights treaties 54. The human rights treaty bodies have become increasingly effective, with their output having greater impact. The creation of a tenth treaty body established by the International Convention for the Protection of All Persons from Enforced Disappearance is imminent. In September 2009 the Optional Protocol to the Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights was opened to signature, and more than 30 States have signed this instrument. In December 2009, an open-ended Intergovernmental Working Group met to explore the possibility of elaborating an optional protocol to the Convention on the Rights of the Child to provide a communications procedure complementary to the reporting procedure under the Convention. 55. The growth of the human rights treaty body system provides challenges to OHCHR, including in terms of the management of the workload of the treaty bodies and States Parties, and in relation to the coherence of the system. OHCHR will further harmonize its own working methods to ensure better support to the work of the treaty bodies. However, additional human and financial resources will be required to address this increasing workload and I encourage Member States to consider providing regular budget support in this respect. The treaty bodies have continued to harmonize their working methods, and their achievements include the adoption of reporting guidelines for a Common Core 14 GE.09-17604