A/HRC/27/29 including intersectional forms of discrimination, in all areas of public and private life.44 Violence and all other forms of discrimination against women and women’s rights defenders should be promptly and efficiently investigated, prosecuted and remedied (A/HRC/23/50, paras. 64–65). B. Racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance and equal political participation 60. Article 5 (c) of the International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination provides that States parties must undertake to prohibit and eliminate racial discrimination in the area of “[p]olitical rights, in particular the right to participate in elections – to vote and to stand for election – on the basis of universal and equal suffrage, to take part in the Government as well as in the conduct of public affairs at any level and to have equal access to public service”. In its General Recommendation No. 20 (1996), the Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination stated that the onus is on States to demonstrate that any restrictions on the rights contained in article 5 of the Convention are not discriminatory in their purpose or effect. 61. The Durban Declaration and Programme of Action (DDPA) draws attention to the fact that racism and racial discrimination limit opportunities for political and public participation. In this regard, it urges States and encourages the private sector and international financial and development institutions, such as the World Bank and regional development banks, to promote the participation of individuals and groups of individuals who are victims of racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance in economic, cultural and social decision-making at all stages, particularly in the development and implementation of poverty alleviation strategies, development projects, and trade and market assistance programmes. The DDPA further urges States to promote, as appropriate, the effective and equal access of all members of the community, especially those who are victims of racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance, to decisionmaking processes in society at all levels and, in particular, at the local level (DDPA, paras. 99, 115, 210 and 213). 62. Along with the strategies laid out in the DDPA, international human rights mechanisms have also called on parliaments, political parties and civil society organizations to actively combat the “political normalization and exploitation” of racial discrimination within their activities (E/CN.4/2006/54). In this context, it should be noted that article 4 of the International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination obliges States Parties to condemn all propaganda and any organizations that are based on ideas or theories of the superiority of one race or group of persons of one colour or ethnic origin, or which attempt to justify or promote racial hatred and discrimination in any form. C. Indigenous peoples and equal political participation 63. Indigenous peoples are among some of the most excluded, marginalized and disadvantaged social groups. Discrimination against indigenous peoples has had a negative impact on their ability to freely determine the direction of their own communities or to participate in decision-making on matters that affect their human rights. 44 14 Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination against Women, General Recommendation No. 28.