A/HRC/6/10 page 2 Summary The Intergovernmental Working Group on the effective implementation of the Durban Declaration and Programme of Action held the first part of its fifth session in Geneva from 5 to 9 March 2007, and the second part from 3 to 7 September 2007. At the first part of its session, the Working Group examined two thematic areas: the role of national action plans in combating racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance, with presentations by panellists and a presentation by the Secretariat; and complementary international standards, with the preliminary exchange of views with the five experts selected to conduct a study on gaps in existing international instruments to combat racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance. The panellists on the role of national action plans in combating racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance explored the effectiveness of national action plans and the obstacles to their implementation. They also highlighted specific national experiences, provided comparative analyses of national action plans, and drew attention to points that should be taken into account when preparing and drafting national action plans against racism. On the thematic issue of complementary international standards, the experts discussed the methodology that they had adopted for the study. The Working Group flagged combating xenophobia, standards of protection in the media and the protection of indigenous peoples, migrants, asylum-seekers and refugees as areas that would probably require particular consideration by the experts. Much of the debate also revolved around the questions of religious intolerance and discrimination based on multiple grounds. At the second part of its session, the Working Group examined the study submitted by the Committee on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination on possible measures to strengthen implementation through optional recommendations or the update of its monitoring procedures (A/HRC/4/WG.3/7), and a report submitted by the experts on the content and scope of substantive gaps in the existing international instruments to combat racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance (A/HRC/4/WG.3/6). The Working Group adopted by consensus several recommendations on each of the themes discussed during the two parts of the session.