A/49/415/Add.1 English Page 10 Indigenous ethnic groups 48. At present, there are no fewer than 80 known ethnic groups in Colombia, and more than 1 million indigenous people live throughout the national territory. As a result of the 1991 Constitution and the far-reaching effort launched over 25 years ago to organize and mobilize indigenous peoples, indigenous communities today are very well represented in the political sphere and participate actively in public life. 49. The political Constitution of 1991 represented substantial progress in that it recognized that all cultures of the country deserved respect in the legal, social and political spheres. Articles 7, 8, 10 and 70 of this fundamental instrument provide the foundation for the recognition of indigenous communities and other ethnic groups. Article 70 states: "The State has the obligation to promote and foster access to the culture of all Colombians equally by means of ongoing education and scientific, technical, artistic and vocational instruction at all stages of the process of creating the national identity. "Culture in its diverse manifestations constitutes the basis of nationality. The State recognizes the equality and dignity of all who live together in the country. The State shall promote research on and the development, dissemination and knowledge of the cultural values of the nation." 50. The objective of this provision is not only to preserve the customs and traditions of ethnic groups (dances, songs, clothing, myths, legends), but also, to ensure their active integration into the cultural life of the country. 51. As a complement to the foregoing, article 10 of the Constitution both establishes Spanish as the official language of Colombia and states that the languages and dialects of ethnic groups are also official in their own territories. The education provided in communities with their own linguistic traditions shall be bilingual. 52. Article 330 of the Constitution establishes a broad administrative framework for indigenous communities: "In accordance with the Constitution and the laws, the indigenous territories shall be governed by councils, which shall be established and regulated in accordance with the practices and customs of their communities and shall exercise the following functions: "(1) Oversee the application of legal regulations governing the uses of the land and the settlement of their territories; "(2) Design economic and social development policies, plans and programmes within their territory, and in accordance with the National Development Plan; /...