A/HRC/35/45 30. The representative of South Africa noted that racism not only continued to exist, but that it was increasing. Xenophobia was an issue that affected all regions of the world. She noted that challenges still remained, while expressing her hope that during the present session the working group would move forward on enhancing efforts to combat racism. 31. The representative of the European Union pointed to the work that had been done in Europe in order to fight racism. The representative referred in particular to the development of a legal framework, the criminalization of hate speech and incitement to violence and, more recently, the appointment by the European Commission of coordinators on combating anti-Semitism and anti-Muslim hatred. The coordinators served as contact points for affected communities and cooperated by developing strategies to combat racism and hate speech. 32. The representative of Pakistan agreed that, despite all efforts, the problem of racism was growing and expanding across all regions. IV. Discussion on measures to be taken to enhance the effectiveness of the follow-up mechanism to the Durban Declaration and Programme of Action and to ensure better synergies and complementarities in the work of these mechanisms, in accordance with paragraph 124 of the Outcome Document of the Durban Review Conference 33. In accordance with paragraph 13 of General Assembly resolution 70/140, the Working Group invited the group of independent eminent experts to participate in its fourteenth session with a view to ensure the effective participation and optimal utilization of its mandate. The Working Group and the group of independent eminent experts discussed challenges that the latter faced in effectively contributing to the fight against racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance and the full implementation of the Durban Declaration and Programme of Action. 34. Ms. Suchocka reminded participants that the group of independent eminent experts was established by the Durban Declaration and Programme of Action, however, its role had not been clearly described. There was a lack of clarity concerning its function and mandate, both as individuals and as a group. 35. The group of independent eminent experts could have contributed to various reports on racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance that had been submitted to the General Assembly and the Human Rights Council, but until then the group had not been involved in such work. 36. The individual roles of the independent eminent experts should also be decided upon, as well as the geographical areas that their individual mandates cover. Ms. Suchocka called for the appointment of the remaining experts in order to work more effectively. The mandate of the group should be comprehensively reviewed and amended with the inclusion of clear objectives. 37. There was a lack of coordination among the independent eminent experts and suggested that their roles could be organized in a different way in order to ensure that they were acting as a group. In that regard, she requested that human and financial resources should be made available for that purpose. She reminded participants that the Durban Programme of Action had mandated the independent eminent experts to follow up on its implementation, however, the human and material conditions for those tasks were not given. 38. The representative of the European Union asked what the added value of changing the mandate of the group of independent eminent experts would be. She also asked if it were indeed necessary to dedicate more resources to that end, as there were also other mechanisms in existence. The European Union was concerned that such an undertaking could lead to a duplication of functions. 5