To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what steps they have (a) taken (b) plan to take as part of the UN Decade for African People in support of the theme entitled People of African descent: recognition, justice and development.

Her Majesty's Government has no specific plans to mark the UN International Decade for People of African Descent. However, the elimination of racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance remains a priority for the UK.

Domestically, the UK has one of the strongest legislative frameworks in place to protect communities from hostility, violence and bigotry and we keep it under review to ensure that it remains effective and appropriate in the face of new and emerging threats.

Internationally, we work through the United Nations to ensure the international community focuses on strengthening national, regional and international legal frameworks, in order to make a reality of the protections contained in the International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination.