A/HRC/19/77 B. Opening of the session 6. On 17 October 2011, the Director of the Human Rights Council and Special Procedures Division opened the first meeting of the ninth session on behalf of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights. He noted the successful commemoration of the tenth anniversary of the adoption of the Durban Declaration and Programme of Action in New York and highlighted the ongoing celebration of the International Year of People of African Descent. He also stressed the need to keep attention focused on victims and to implement concrete and effective policies and programmes in order to accelerate equal enjoyment of human rights by all. He added that the objective of the High Commissioner was to ensure that the follow-up to the Durban Declaration and Programme of Action and the outcome document of the Durban Review Conference was an office-wide priority. In this regard, the Director mentioned the three workshops on national plans of action organized by OHCHR in Yaoundé, Addis Ababa and Saint Petersburg. He underlined the importance of the two topics to be discussed at the session, namely, the role of sport and the role of education in combating racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance. He noted that the Durban Declaration and Programme of Action and the outcome document of the Durban Review Conference provided a comprehensive agenda for advancing the fight against racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance. He concluded by expressing the hope that practical and action-oriented recommendations would result from the session. C. Election of the Chairperson-Rapporteur 7. The Permanent Representative of Djibouti to the United Nations in Geneva, Mohamed Siad Douale, was elected Chairman-Rapporteur by acclamation. In his opening remarks, Mr. Douale reiterated his strong commitment to the fight against racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance. D. Statements 8. The European Union congratulated Mr. Douale on his re-election as ChairpersonRapporteur, thanked him for his achievement to date in bringing different delegations together on subjects where they sometimes had diverging views, and assured him of the support of the European Union and its constructive engagement during the session. E. Adoption of the agenda and programme of work 9. After the election of its Chairperson, the Working Group adopted the agenda for its ninth session and its programme of work. The Working Group held its final meeting on the afternoon of 10 January 2012. 4