A/HRC/35/45 Report of the Intergovernmental Working Group on the Effective Implementation of the Durban Declaration and Programme of Action on its fourteenth session I. Introduction 1. The present report is submitted by the Intergovernmental Working Group on the Effective Implementation of the Durban Declaration and Programme of Action in accordance with Human Rights Council resolution 34/34. II. Organization of the session 2. The Working Group held its fourteenth session from 5 to 14 October 2016. Participants discussed and shared views on the state of racial discrimination worldwide, and measures to enhance the effectiveness of the follow-up mechanism to the Durban Declaration and Programme of Action and to ensure better synergies in the work of those mechanisms. The Working Group reviewed the progress achieved on the programme of activities for the implementation of the International Decade for People of African Descent and on the implementation of recommendations adopted at its previous session. Experts’ presentations were followed by interactive discussions. The Working Group adopted conclusions and recommendations on the above-mentioned themes. A. Attendance 3. The session was attended by representatives of States Members of the United Nations, observers from non-member States and observers from intergovernmental and non-governmental organizations. 4. Under items 5 and 6 of the programme of work, presentations were made by Ricardo Sunga III, Chair of the Working Group of Experts on People of African Descent, and two members of the group of independent eminent experts, Hanna Suchocka and Edna Maria Santos Roland. 5. Under item 9 of the programme of work, presentations were made by: Julia Suárez Cabrera, Director of Legislative Analysis and International Affairs at the National Council for the Prevention of Discrimination of Mexico; Rokhaya Diallo, writer and film director; Myriam Cottias, historian; and Michael McEachrane, scholar and activist in the area of human rights and anti-racism. B. Opening of the session and election of the Chair-Rapporteur 6. The Permanent Representative of Sierra Leone to the United Nations Office and other international organizations in Geneva, Yvette Stevens, was elected Chair-Rapporteur by acclamation. C. Adoption of the agenda and programme of work 7. After the election of the Chair-Rapporteur, the Working Group adopted the programme of work for its fourteenth session. D. Statements 8. The representative of Pakistan, on behalf of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation, reaffirmed the latter’s commitment to ensure the universal and effective 2