A/HRC/31/75 representative stated that Brazil was fully committed to the implementation of the programme of activities of the Decade, as adopted by the General Assembly in its resolution 69/16. In that context, the representative emphasized the importance of the decision to establish a forum on people of African Descent, with broad and inclusive participation of people of African descent. It should be a place where the voices of people of African descent would be heard. Brazil was very honoured to host, on 3 and 4 December 2015, in Brasilia, the Regional Meeting for Latin America and the Caribbean on the International Decade for People of African Descent. It would be the first regional meeting on the Decade, and would provide an opportunity to identify challenges and exchange good practices on the implementation of the programme of activities for the implementation of the International Decade in the region. People of African descent from all over the region would be able to participate in the meeting. The United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights would also participate, as the coordinator of the Decade. 29. The representative of the European Union, in reference to the implementation of the Decade, noted that the adoption by the General Assembly of the programme of activities for the implementation of the International Decade for People of African Descent marked a remarkable recognition by the international community of the ongoing challenges faced by people of African descent in all regions. Too often, people of African descent faced racial discrimination and denial of basic human rights, such as access to health care, jobs, housing and education. The programme of activities contained many excellent recommendations to address the challenges faced by people of African descent. Of particular importance was the priority given to the effective implementation of the national and international framework in combating racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance. The International Convention on the Elimination of all Forms of Racial Discrimination was a key instrument, and the international community needed to step up its full and effective implementation worldwide, as this still remained a challenge to many countries. All European Union member States had ratified and implemented this convention. The European Union would welcome and support possible United Nations events in Geneva and elsewhere to mark the fiftieth anniversary of the Convention. Some European Union members (Belgium and Slovenia) had already hosted a high-level event to mark the upcoming fiftieth anniversary of the Convention. 30. The representative of Colombia talked about the country’s experience regarding the implementation of the programme of activities for the implementation of the International Decade for People of African Descent. He stressed the need to combat exclusion. He emphasized that the Working Group had to talk about concrete measures on the ground and therefore the implementation of the programme of activities. There was a need to launch new public policies that would follow a holistic approach and take into account different sectors of society and regions within a country. Public policies needed to benefit from broad participation, including by academia and civil society. In Colombia a number of activities had been initiated. Colombia had, for example, created an intersectoral commission that was part of a national development plan. National campaigns against racism would be launched in the years to come. Those campaigns aimed at making people more aware of the issue. Similar campaigns should be launched at the global level. 31. The representative of South Africa also spoke about the implementation of the Decade, and urged States to ensure that it would focus attention on the plight of the victims of historical injustices and contribute to the realization of all their human rights and fundamental freedoms, through initiatives that would be undertaken by States and various stakeholders in the framework of the Decade. The representative asked the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights and the international community to give the highest priority to the programmes for combating racism and racial discrimination and to ensure the success of the International Decade for People of African Descent. The representative also 8