A/HRC/28/3 B. 1. Enhancing equality and countering discrimination Racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance 34. The Office assisted Governments in relation to legislation and national plans of action, in increasing awareness and developing the capacity of national actors to address racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance, and by providing forums for addressing contemporary manifestations of racism. 35. Substantive support was provided for the work of the four Durban follow-up mechanisms. I am pleased to note that the international community is converging on ways forward, particularly in combating racism in sports and strengthening the procedures of the Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination. OHCHR also actively contributed to the preparation of the International Decade for People of African Descent commencing in 2015. 36. OHCHR pursued its work on issues relating to freedom of religion or belief, including with regard to the prohibition of incitement to national, racial or religious hatred. Follow-up to the Rabat Plan of Action and the implementation of Human Rights Council resolutions 16/18 and 22/31 focused on practical steps at the international and national levels. Events aimed at specific stakeholder groups were organized in Belarus, Jordan, the Russian Federation and Tunisia. 37. OHCHR embarked on concrete activities to counter the negative and discriminatory perception of migrants. In collaboration with United Nations partners, it is preparing a publication and audiovisual material exploring the human rights challenges faced by migrant domestic workers in an irregular situation. 38. In the field, OHCHR assisted the Government of Mauritania in the development and adoption of a road map to address the vestiges of slavery; in Honduras, a human rights advisory team supported the Government in organizing consultations and in drafting a national policy against racism and racial discrimination. 2. Discrimination on the basis of indigenous or minority status 39. Conflicts, ranging from those in the Central African Republic to Iraq, have demonstrated how minorities are often the main victims of violence. Stepping up systemwide work to combat racial discrimination and to protect minorities is an imperative of human rights and conflict prevention. A key tool in this regard is the guidance note prepared by the United Nations network on racial discrimination and protection of minorities and approved by the Secretary-General. OHCHR provided support to Governments and minority representatives aimed at strengthening legislation on minority rights and addressing key concerns ranging from the protection of religious minorities from violence to advancing the housing rights of Roma. 40. OHCHR strengthened its work to protect the rights of indigenous peoples, including in relation to “development” projects pursued without their free, prior and informed consent. It contributed to the first World Conference on Indigenous Peoples, held in September 2014, the results of which gave new impetus to this work. The Conference showed that the close involvement of the persons and groups affected is critical to successful development, and called for improved implementation of the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples. OHCHR also issued new practical tools to advance the implementation of the Declaration, and continued its indigenous and minority fellowship programme. 8