A/HRC/42/59/Add.2 Time and again, the Working Group heard reports of structural discrimination focusing on all non-white poor people in Argentina and in particular people of African descent. Democracy has brought to light issues that were hidden during the dictatorship, including the history of people of African descent. The Government is making efforts to create a culture of human rights and has started work to address the lack of recognition, justice and development. It is critically important that all work to address the situation of people of African descent is done in partnership with them, with civil society and with a human rights-based approach. 28. Argentina must come to terms with the reality that people of African descent are a group living in a situation of vulnerability and thus deserving of special measures. They have faced numerous difficulties; however they are becoming organized, with a number of networks and civil society organizations promoting their human rights. Exclusion has been their lot for so long that they need support from international organizations. In particular, the Working Group noted the lack of representation of people of African descent in the Government; except in one instance, the Working Group did not meet a single person of African descent in its extensive meetings with the authorities. The Working Group notes with concern that underrepresentation could perpetuate racial bias and stereotypes of people of African descent only as migrants and not valuable contributors to Argentine society. 29. The Working Group found that the Spanish word “negro” carries a predominantly negative connotation in Argentina, associated with discrimination based on race and socioeconomic status. The Working Group was informed that expressions such as “working like a negro”, “work in black”, “look at the black”, and “girl/boy from the slums” are considered offensive and derogatory by Afro-Argentines. The National Institute against Discrimination, Xenophobia and Racism stated that it had designed a manual for communicators that is specific to the population of African descent, in order to promote inclusive communication, make use of language as a tool to promote rights and work and contribute to the eradication of negative connotations regarding the word “black”. 13 Civil society also reported racist portrayals of people of African descent in the media. Representatives of communities of African descent reported to the Working Group that lack of representation, coupled with an absence of positive references or role models in the media and culture, led to further invisibility. 30. Despite having a strong legal, policy and institutional framework to combat discrimination, Argentina faces shortcomings in the implementation of protection measures against racial discrimination. The experiences of people of African descent with law enforcement indicate the prevalence of structural discrimination. As reported by civil society, racial profiling of Afro-Argentines, people of African descent and Africans is prevalent among law enforcement agents. Negative stereotypes of people of African descent to the effect that they are dangerous, violent criminals involved in drug trafficking and sex work have contributed to excessive policing, resulting in selective and discretionary mechanisms for carrying out arbitrary detentions and investigations. Excessive policing is reportedly manifested in the heavy presence and vigilance on the part of the security forces in popular areas mostly inhabited by “non-whites”; an excessive number of non-white people in places of detention, both in pretrial detention centres and in penitentiaries; and excessive use of force by the security forces, a phenomenon known as “easy trigger”. In that connection, the lack of representation of people of African descent in the police is also of particular concern in the light of widespread racial profiling and represents a risk of potential police-community tensions. 31. Such disproportionate use of force against people of African descent can turn to deadly violence. That was the story of a Uruguayan national of African descent, José Delfin Acosta Martínez, who died in Argentine police custody on 5 April 1996. On 11 July 2013, the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights found admissible the complaint of his family against Argentina about the arbitrary arrest, detention, torture and death in police 13 See “Manual de comunicación inclusiva: buenas prácticas para comunicadores y comunicadoras. Afrodescendientes”, available at https://adsdatabase.ohchr.org/IssueLibrary/ INADI_Buenas%20Practicas%20para%20comunicadores.%20Afrodescendientes.pdf. 9