A/HRC/45/47 of economic, social, cultural, civil and political rights by people of African descent and their full and equal participation in all aspects of society. 4 6. It is important to highlight that there are a number of contemporary issues, developments and initiatives that are having an impact and that stress the critical ongoing relevance of and the urgent need to step up action to implement the programme of activities. A. Impact of COVID-19 on people of African descent 7. The devastating health consequences of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) for many people of African descent, who have been disproportionately affected by the pandemic, have been acknowledged. Structural inequalities and racial discrimination have been reflected in limited access to medicines and medical procedures and are likely also to have had an impact on diagnosis and treatment.5 In addition, people of African descent represent a significant percentage of frontline workers, who are more exposed to the risk of contamination, and of those infected or dying in the pandemic. 8. Where disaggregated data is available, stark racial disparities are evident. For example, a number of studies have documented that people of African descent have higher infection and mortality rates. Moreover, their situation is aggravated by several underlying health conditions that enhance their risk and vulnerability to the COVID-19 virus and that often are symptoms of prevalent structural racism.6 9. OHCHR has prepared a guidance note on racial discrimination in the context of the COVID-19 crisis,7 in which it outlines the issues that have a particular impact on the human rights of people of African descent, including the rights to health, adequate housing and access to education, and on issues of food security, law enforcement and administration of justice. The guidance note includes some recommendations, as well as examples of promising action. B. Twentieth anniversary of the Durban Declaration and Programme of Action 10. In the programme of activities it is recognized that the Durban Declaration and Programme of Action8 is a comprehensive United Nations framework and a solid foundation for combating racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance, and represents a new stage in the efforts of the United Nations and the international community to restore the rights and dignity of people of African descent.9 11. The Durban Declaration and Programme of Action is the genesis of the international recognition of Africans and people of African descent as victims of racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance, 10 and of recognition that slavery, the slave trade, including the transatlantic slave trade, and colonialism are among the sources, causes, forms and contemporary manifestations of racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance against them. 12. The year 2021 will mark the twentieth anniversary of the adoption by consensus of the Durban Declaration and Programme of Action in South Africa. The Human Rights Council has requested the Intergovernmental Working Group on the Effective Implementation of the Durban Declaration and Programme of Action to commence preparations for the commemoration, in 2021, of the twentieth anniversary of the adoption of the Durban Declaration and Programme of Action, and to submit a comprehensive report 4 5 6 7 General Assembly resolution 69/16, annex, para. 9 (a). See www.ohchr.org/Documents/Issues/Racism/COVID-19_and_Racial_Discrimination.pdf. Ibid. Ibid. 8 A/CONF.189/12 and Corr.1, chap. I. 9 General Assembly resolution 69/16, annex, para. 1. A/CONF.189/12 and Corr.1, chap. I, paras.13–14 and 33–35. 10 3