A/HRC/19/60/Add.1 affecting the situation of human rights in Paraguay seems to be the weakness of implementation mechanisms. Given the enormous social inequalities in such areas as distribution of wealth, access to public or private education, political influence, ethnic and linguistic minority status and gender-related differences, the weak presence and poor capacity of State institutions render certain sectors of the population structurally vulnerable to possible human rights abuses, including in the field of freedom of religion or belief. This problem seems to be even more pronounced outside the capital, especially in remote areas. A number of interlocutors stated that, in certain remote regions, the State is virtually absent, with the result that human rights guarantees and policies in those areas are rarely effective. This can have serious consequences for, for instance, members of indigenous peoples, but also for other individuals in situations of particular vulnerability, including members of ethnic, religious or sexual minorities, women, children and people living in poverty. 22. While finding broad consensus on many human rights topics and challenges, the Special Rapporteur also became aware of certain politically contentious issues relating to his mandate. Open tensions that came up repeatedly during discussions concerned problems where education met anti-discrimination policies, especially in the field of gender- and sexual orientation-related discrimination. The Pedagogical Regulating Framework (Marco Rector Pedagógico), a Government initiative recently prepared with the involvement of civil society and the support of the United Nations system in Paraguay aiming to provide population sectors at risk, for example young people and pregnant women, with information and education on sexual and reproductive health, had elicited strong opposition from advocates of traditional family values. The opposition against the initiative apparently received much support from religious groups across different denominations and some Congress members. A similar political controversy, which was also reflected in many discussions held during the country visit, concerned the role of anti-discrimination principles in the school curriculum. In this context, the Special Rapporteur learned that antidiscrimination legislation had been repeatedly shelved as a result of opposition in Congress and in certain religious and conservative groups. B. Normative guarantees and challenges of implementation for the freedom of religion or belief 23. At the normative level, the 1992 Constitution protects freedom of religion, worship and ideology. With a view to effectively provide freedom of religion or belief for everyone in a non-discriminatory manner, the Constitution has abandoned the concept of a State religion. Whereas prior to 1992 Catholicism had the status of official State religion, Paraguay is now “secular” in the sense that the State no longer identifies itself with one religion at the expense of equal treatment of members of other denominations. Moreover, the Constitution also guarantees the right to conscientious objection to mandatory military service. 24. The above-mentioned normative provisions are not empty promises. Indeed, the Special Rapporteur received the clear impression that the Government is committed to human rights and respects freedom of religion or belief, both de jure and de facto. The State does not directly or indirectly indoctrinate people in questions of religion or belief, nor does it impose undue restrictions on public manifestations of different religious and nonreligious convictions. This positive assessment was also shared by interlocutors from religious or belief minorities, including people with non-religious convictions. 25. Despite the traditional dominance of the Catholic Church, whose followers currently make up some 90 per cent of the entire population, religious pluralism is a tangible feature of today’s society, at least in urban areas. People generally seem to accept manifestations of religious diversity in a rather relaxed manner, by regarding pluralism as a normal feature of 8