A/HRC/4/9/Add.3 page 17 territories often cross State boundaries, and they suffer greatly from the effects of drought, flooding and conflict over land, resources and water. Pastoralists commonly face high and disproportionate levels of poverty, food insecurity and low educational enrolment levels.12 57. The Government reportedly favours a policy to settle nomadic pastoralist groups. For many pastoralists this is a denial of the right to their culture and lifestyle and contrary to the Constitution, which extends guarantees regarding cultural preservation, and grants the right not to be evicted from traditional lands. Pastoralist ethnic groups are present in the House of Federation and the House of Peoples’ Representatives.13 However, pastoralist representatives working for NGOs14 are concerned that their opinions are not accurately represented and believe that the federal Government must play a more constructive role in reaching solutions to conflicts involving land use, that respect traditional lifestyles, land occupancy and usage. 58. The situation of the Karayu pastoralists, an Oromo tribal group inhabiting the Fantalle district of Oromia, and neighbouring pastoralist groups was highlighted. Allegations state that the Karayu have been forcibly displaced from their lands and denied access to the Awash River (their only natural water source), due to the establishment of the Awash National Park, Upper Awash Agro-industry Enterprise and Methara Sugar Factory in the area. Displacement has allegedly taken place without compensation, and brought them into conflict with neighbouring pastoralist groups including the Argoba, the Afar, the Ittu and the Arsi, since all must compete for pastureland, resources and water. Community representatives claim that conflicts have intensified and that traditional conflict resolution mechanisms are unable to resolve this situation. V. NON-DISCRIMINATION AND EQUALITY 59. Article 25 of the Constitution states that: “All persons are equal before the law and are entitled without any discrimination to the equal protection of the law. In this respect, the law shall guarantee to all persons equal and effective protection without discrimination on grounds of race, nation, nationality, or other social origin, colour, sex, language, religion, political or other opinion, property, birth or other status.” 12 Pastoralist enrolment in education in Ethiopia is 24 per cent compared with a national average estimated by the Government to be 70 per cent. Pastoralists fall far behind national averages in regard to most human development indicators. 13 In addition there is a Pastoralist Standing Committee at the House of Peoples’ Representatives, which coordinates the role of the legislature in the enforcement of the rights of pastoral groups, and a Pastoralist Affairs Development Department. 14 Pastoralist Forum Ethiopia states that 29 ethnic groups in 6 states in Ethiopia are pastoralist members of the Forum, which represents 11 NGOs working on 13 projects in areas such as good governance, best practice, and conflict prevention.