A/HRC/31/74 40. The Deputy Permanent Representative noted that, subsequent to the 2001 World Conference against Racism, Racial Discrimination, Xenophobia and Related Intolerance held in Durban, the South African Government approved the establishment of the National Forum against Racism (NFAR) in 2003, which was comprised of various stakeholders, including national and provincial government and civil society organisations. 41. Describing challenges the Deputy Permanent Representative turned to migration and noted that South Africa remained the preferred destination for migrants and faced a host of migration-related challenges. South Africa had long and porous borders which exacerbated those challenges. Recent attacks against foreigners were referred by some as xenophobic. The attacks had been condemned by government. The government was determined to restore and maintain order within communities. Operation Fiela — Reclaim was an operation to rid the country of illegal weapons, drug trafficking, prostitution rings and other illegal activities. 42. The Deputy Permanent Representative stated that the mandate of the Ad Hoc Committee was clear, and that it was expected that progress be made during the current session. The Human Rights Council had given a clear mandate to elaborate complementary standards, and if the Ad Hoc Committee failed, it would be failing the plight of all the victims of racism. 43. The representative of Cuba reaffirmed its commitment to fight all forms of racism and xenophobia. The representative expressed extreme concern about racial discrimination and xenophobia in countries of the North in particular, in view of anti-migrant sentiment, xenophobic reactions and sophisticated contemporary forms of racial discrimination. Political will was required to eliminate these problems. The Ad Hoc Committee had a clear mandate to elaborate complementary standards to the existing legal framework, which Cuba supported. It was fundamental, the delegate stated, that that the Committee ensured that there was no loss of dignity for victims and that it take up the relevant topics related to these various problems. Cuba supported South Africa’s briefing and reiterated that the mandate of the Ad Hoc Committee had to be respected and that the Committee move ahead in order to work properly. 44. During the 7th meeting, on 16 July, the Ambassador of Ecuador made a presentation on Ecuador’s national issues, challenges and best practices related to ICERD. She stated that indigenous peoples, Afro-Ecuadorian and Montubio constitute 21% of the Ecuadorian population. Historically, they have been the most exploited, discriminated and excluded, due to historical colonial practices based on social classification in accordance with skin colour, language, worldview, religious beliefs, culture and forms of organization. 45. In this context, the government of Ecuador has taken up the challenge to consolidate and construct a society that is participatory, intercultural, plurinational, equal and inclusive for everyone living on its national territory. 46. Currently, there are adequate normative and programme measures, in accordance with the Constitution, enshrining the principles of full equality, inclusion, and nondiscrimination. An example of the political will to make changes and revaluation is the Plurinational Plan for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination and Ethic and Cultural Exclusion 2009-2012. 47. Ecuador has various planning instruments to fight multidimensional poverty and inequalities, such as the Atlas of Inequalities. The idea is to use detailed information to improve and update public policies and implementation mechanisms, monitoring the situation of vulnerable groups. There are also five national agendas, focusing on inequalities and one of them is called National Agenda for Equality of Nationalities and Peoples, which like other national agendas, was developed through a bottom-up approach, 28