A/HRC/31/75 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 11/12 and decision 3/103. II. Organization of the session 2. The Intergovernmental Working Group held its thirteenth session from 5 to 16 October 2015. Participants shared experiences, including best practices, regarding the implementation of the programme of activities for the implementation of the International Decade for People of African Descent and discussed the preparations for the fifteenth anniversary of the adoption of the Durban Declaration and Programme of Action. The Working Group held a thematic discussion on racism and poverty. 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 item 5 of the programme of work, presentations were made by Dozie Celeste Ugochukwu, President of the African Diaspora Council of Switzerland and a member of the Swiss Federal Commission against Racism; Carole Boyce Davies, Professor of African Studies at Cornell University; and Yury Boychenko, Chief of the Anti-Racial Discrimination Section, Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR). 5. Under item 8 of the programme of work, presentations were made by David Woodward, Senior Adviser, United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD); Marcelo Jorge de Paila Paixão, Associate Professor of African and African Diaspora Studies at the University of Texas at Austin; Jotaka Eaddy, adviser on government and regulatory affairs for Silicon Valley-based companies; Carlos Augusto Viáfara López, Associate Professor, Universidad del Valle in Cali, Colombia; Gay McDougall, member of the Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination; and Mutuma Ruteere, Special Rapporteur on contemporary forms of racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance. B. Opening of the session 6. C. On 5 October 2015, Mr. Boychenko opened the session. Election of the Chair-Rapporteur 7. The Permanent Representative of Djibouti to the United Nations in Geneva, Mohamed Siad Douale, was re-elected Chair-Rapporteur by acclamation. 3