Afro-descendant civil society organisations in Latin America have pursued an important strand of advocacy on reforming national censuses. Th e aim has been to increase the 'visibility' of Afrodescendant populations through disaggregated data and thus to improve recognition of their distinct identity. Brazil is leading the way on such data collection while other countries are taking fi rst steps, like Argentina and Chile. International organisations have off ered support in these eff orts, including development agencies and human rights institutions. Th e census questions added have not always met the expectations of civil society, nor have civil society actors always agreed among themselves on the categories of self-identifi cation. Th e 2001 World Conference against Racism has also played a key role by challenging the 'racial democracy' myth, exposing racism as a factor in inequality and stimulating increased Afro-descendant social mobilisation.