A/HRC/37/28 efforts in educational and labour areas and greater participation of women, particularly those from marginalized groups, in decision-making. 22. Mr. Viáfara López said that although robust frameworks existed on either racial or gender discrimination, respectively, few applied to their intersection. He therefore recommended the adoption of educational policies to enhance educational attainment in conjunction with labour-integration policies to enhance economic attainment. He stressed the need to strengthen the capacity and awareness of those responsible for implementing policies, in order to tackle discrimination against women of African descent, indigenous women and women from other groups. 23. Ms. Gbedemah said that the Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination against Women had consistently called for the raising of awareness of the rights and remedies available under the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women. Awareness-raising had to be informed by evidence-based data, which was why the Committee had regularly asked State parties to provide statistical evidence regarding the situation of Afro-descendent, indigenous and minority women. She stressed that it was important for each State to gather relevant data in order to implement the 2030 Agenda. The Committee had also called for effective measures to address the discrimination and violence faced by disadvantaged groups of women, in particular to close the gap between constitutional guarantees of gender equality and women’s effective participation in decision-making. She highlighted that democracy and development would not be attainable within the context of continuing discrimination and pleaded for institutional strengthening at all levels and for the appropriate allocation of resources and funding to combat multiple and intersecting forms of discrimination, including to ensure access to affordable and good quality justice services. 24. Ms. Crickley emphasized that States needed to be aware of their human rights obligations and that a lack of complaints did not necessarily point to a lack of issues. It was more likely to mean that people did not know how, or were afraid, to report acts of discrimination and hatred. Women who experienced discrimination should have the right and opportunity to participate in decision-making. With regard to the 2030 Agenda, it was important for all States to collect the type of data that was required under the International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination. Ms. Crickley recommended close interaction among human rights mechanisms working on different grounds of discrimination, in order to ensure that proper attention was paid to intersectional discrimination. Regarding women in criminal justice systems, she underlined that existing international instruments should be fully implemented. She urged States that had yet to ratify the International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination to do so immediately. 25. In concluding, Ms. El Kaddouri made three recommendations on how to address intersectional discrimination. First, she argued that gender and racial discrimination could not be addressed separately. It was crucial for States to identify the groups of women that were the most vulnerable and discriminated against, and for data to be collected on their situation. Second, she reiterated the importance of educating people about their human rights and mechanisms of redress when they faced violations. Third, she recommended the involvement of marginalized social groups of women in policymaking processes. 26. Ms. Farani Azevêdo stated that the discussion would leave her with a memory of many encouraging observations on how Governments were fighting intersectional discrimination against women and girls. While many delegations referred to the challenges, she believed that the inclusion and participation of women and girls was key to overcoming those challenges and that addressing intersecting forms of discrimination against women and girls would contribute to the full implementation of the Sustainable Development Goals. She noted that the panel discussion was the first held in the context of the Human Rights Council to focus on intersectional discrimination against women and girls, and said that it was essential that follow-up to the discussion be ensured. 6