A/HRC/35/45 39. The representative of the International Youth and Student Movement for the United Nations noted that one of the greatest problems was that the general public had not been made more aware of the Durban Declaration and Programme of Action. In order to do that, the independent eminent experts should play an increasing role in publicizing and spreading information about the Durban Declaration and Programme of Action, for instance, by attending meetings or going on country visits to engage with Governments and nongovernmental organizations. 40. The representative of the European Union noted that more time should be given between the respective sessions of the Human Rights Council and the Working Group to allow better preparation and ensure optimal participation of the delegations. She underscored that there should be no duplication of work and that all the programmes should be harmonized. The European Union also proposed postponing consideration of agenda item 6 until a future session. She also suggested reducing the meeting days of the Working Group. 41. Several delegations recalled that it was necessary to establish a forum for people of African descent. The representative of the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela supported the statements made by the representatives of Pakistan and South Africa. The forum could be a new venue to address issues that had not been discussed. He also reiterated his support for all existing mechanisms that addressed the struggle against racism. Several delegations discussed the necessary clarification of the mandate of the group of independent eminent experts. V. Review of the progress achieved concerning the programme of activities for the implementation of the International Decade for People of African Descent 42. Ms. Suárez Cabrera presented a progress report on the achievements of Mexico in implementing measures to combat racism and racial discrimination, acknowledging that the launch of the International Decade for People of African Descent had been an important moment. 43. She emphasized the first-time inclusion of the category “persons of African descent” in the census in 2015. The census had contained a question that included elements of culture, history and tradition in order to count people who identified themselves as AfroMexicans or persons of African descent. According to that survey, there were 1.4 million people who identified themselves as Afro-Mexicans or persons of African descent, representing 1.2 per cent of the national population. She stressed that it was a fundamental step forward in making African descent visible. 44. National legal framework and policies to fight racism had been strengthened and that mechanisms had been established that dealt with reparation and non-repetition measures. Administrative measures had also been taken to address the structural causes of racism. 45. Progress had also been made in regional and local laws against discrimination; 31 of the 32 regions had anti-discrimination legislation. Also, most of them had local constitutional clauses that included provisions on discrimination on the basis of race, language, colour, and national or ethnic background. 46. Mexico had rolled out measures aimed at recognizing the collective rights of AfroMexican people. A national plan for equality and non-discrimination had been launched in order to ensure equal access to human rights and foster cultural change and add value to cultural diversity. Efforts had also been taken, with the support of academia, in order to revise the Mexican legal framework in order to identify and eliminate the remaining discriminatory standards and to recognize international human rights norms and standards. 47. A working group had been established to follow up on the recommendations of the Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination and the provisions of the 6