International Human Rights and the International Human Rights System A Manual for National Human Rights Institutions The Working Group operates on a thematic basis and has considered the following issues as they affect people of African descent: • the administration of justice • the media • access to education • racism and employment • racism and health • racism and housing.183 The Working Group has five members, one from each regional group. It meets twice a year, for five days on each occasion.184 The HRC has requested that all relevant individuals and organizations, including NHRIs, “collaborate with the Working Group by providing it with the necessary information and, where possible, reports in order to enable the Working Group to carry out its mandate”.185 KEY POINTS: CHAPTER 8 • The other principal permanent mechanisms of the Human Rights Council are the Advisory Committee, the Expert Mechanism on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples, the Social Forum, the Forum on Minority Issues and the Working Group of Experts on People of African Descent. • These mechanisms undertake their work through studies as requested by the Human Rights Council. • They meet in Geneva during the course of each year. • All NHRIs, regardless of accreditation status, can participate in meetings of these mechanisms and contribute to their studies. 183 See: www2.ohchr.org/english/issues/racism/groups/african/4african.htm. 184 HRC Resolution 9/14; para. 8. 185 HRC Resolution 9/14; para. 11. Chapter 8: Other permanent mechanisms of the Human Rights Council | 59