E/CN.4/2003/90/Add.2 page 18 47. Numerous Mayan organizations have emerged on the fringes of the government machinery and take action and pursue programmes and projects in areas such as intercultural education, spirituality, defence of human rights and economic and social development. As a result of their own efforts, these civil organizations have achieved high levels of participation and considerable impact on social life in Guatemala. Many of them receive support from international cooperation agencies and some are regarded by government offices as sources of opinion. On the fringes of the Commissions established under the Peace Agreements, which are currently rather lacking in momentum, no consultative machinery has been established as provided for by ILO Convention No. 169, which Guatemala has ratified. The Meeting of Indigenous Leaders, convened in June 2002 with wide-ranging participation and national representation of all indigenous ethnic and linguistic groups, decided to promote the establishment of a National Council of Indigenous Peoples. Once established, this Council could constitute a legitimate partner for dialogue with government institutions.25 48. Some political parties have increasingly been incorporating persons of indigenous origin in their lists of candidates for elective office. During the last two periods of democracy, the number of legislators of indigenous origin has grown, but is still small compared with the demographic and cultural importance of the indigenous peoples in Guatemala, and has not succeeded at all in representing the country’s ethnic diversity. This fact has led to the creation in the National Congress of a Commission of Indigenous Affairs, which should become more active in the future. 49. The Rapporteur has noted that some posts in the Executive are held by distinguished professionals of indigenous origin, including the Minister of Culture and the Deputy Minister of Education. Some of these officials have manifested their express desire to work for full recognition of ethnic diversity and for surmounting the problems of discrimination and rejection, of which they are fully aware and which they have themselves experienced. 50. At the municipal level, taking advantage of a rule which permits the establishment of civic committees not affiliated to political parties, coalitions of social organizations, including numerous indigenous organizations, have been able to take up elective posts, as mayors or town councillors. Intercultural and bilingual education 51. The 1985 Constitution recognizes the value of indigenous languages (art. 58) and stipulates that “in schools established in areas of predominantly indigenous population, education shall be conducted preferably in bilingual form” (art. 76). The Agreement on Identity and Rights (1995, section III) contains a broad range of measures for reviving and protecting indigenous languages and promoting their development and use, and initiating a major reform of the education system in order to consolidate bilingual and intercultural education and guarantee access to education for indigenous people. A Joint Commission - made up of government representatives and indigenous organizations - was set up in 1997 and worked systematically on planning this reform up to 2000. Although the aspects of the educational reform which were supposed to be enshrined in the Constitution have remained pending since the reform of the