A/HRC/45/47 descent, including to address disproportionate police violence, mass incarceration, racial profiling and systemic and structural racial discrimination. B. Assisting in the implementation by States of the programme of activities for the Decade 24. As the General Assembly has acknowledged, efforts and initiatives have been undertaken by States to prohibit discrimination and segregation and to engender the full enjoyment of economic, social and cultural as well as civil and political rights. 22 Several States have taken legislative measures, established or strengthened monitoring bodies and complaints mechanisms, raised awareness and educated, collected data, fostered community engagement and ensured accountability, all of which are welcome. 25. A compilation of the various actions taken by States, drawn from the annual reports of the Secretary-General on the implementation of the programme of activities, 23 can be found at the website of the International Decade for People of African Descent maintained by the Department of Global Communications 24 and in the online anti-discrimination database maintained by OHCHR.25 A number of the measures taken by States have in part been made possible by the advocacy, technical advice and continued engagement of OHCHR. C. Launching the International Decade for People of African Descent 26. In line with the programme of activities, under education on equality and awarenessraising, which is part of the pillar on recognition, States should launch the Decade at the national level and develop national programmes of action and activities for the full and effective implementation of the Decade. 26 The Decade has been launched in Belgium, Canada, Costa Rica, Ecuador, Germany, Guatemala, Jamaica and the Netherlands. OHCHR staff members were able to assist and participate in the launches in Belgium, Canada, Germany and the Netherlands, as well as the launch of the Decade by the African Union Commission held on 24 April 2018 in Addis Ababa. 27. These launches are very welcome and many more States and civil society actors are strongly encouraged to engage at every level to recognize and implement the programme of activities. The Decade should be launched in every country as soon as possible, as it is one of the most symbolic and essential elements of the recognition due to people of African descent. D. Supporting policies, programmes and national action plans 28. In line with the programme of activities, States should adopt, strengthen and implement action-oriented policies, programmes and projects to combat racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance designed to ensure full and equal enjoyment of human rights and fundamental freedoms by people of African descent. 27 States are also encouraged to elaborate national plans of action to promote diversity, equality, equity, social justice, equality of opportunity and the participation of all.28 29. OHCHR, both from its headquarters and through its field presences, has assisted in developing laws and national action plans against racial discrimination by providing expert and technical advice to authorities in Argentina, Belgium, Canada, Kazakhstan, Mexico and Peru, among other States. Moreover, OHCHR has provided expert advice on the drafting of 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 6 Resolution 68/237, third preambular paragraph. A/70/339, A/71/290, A/72/323, A/73/354 and A/74/308. See www.un.org/en/observances/decade-people-african-descent. See https://adsdatabase.ohchr.org/SitePages/Anti-discrimination%20database.aspx. General Assembly resolution 69/16, annex, para. 12 (a). Ibid., para. 11 (g). Ibid.