- 41 - Thirteenth session COLOMBIA 173. The Committee considered the third periodic report of Colombia on articles 1 to 15 of the Covenant (E/1994/104/Add.2) at its 32nd, 33rd and 35th meetings on 21 and 22 November 1995 and, at its 54th meeting on 6 December 1995, adopted the following concuding observations. A. Introduction 174. The Committee welcomes the periodic report submitted by Colombia, which largely complies with the guidelines for the preparation of reports. The written responses to the list of issues submitted to the Government, as well as the report of the Defensoría del Pueblo de Colombia (Ombudsman), were also informative and helpful to the Committee. The competence and frankness of the Government’s representatives, as well as their willingness to respond to all the questions put by members of the Committee, were also appreciated. Lastly, the Committee welcomes the information provided by non-governmental organizations, as well as the stated willingness of the Government to continue the dialogue with them. B. Positive aspects 175. The Committee notes with satisfaction the status of international human rights instruments in domestic law, the human rights provisions contained in the 1991 Constitution and the extensive programme of legislative reform aimed at improving respect for human rights and ensuring effective procedures of redress for violations of fundamental rights. It also takes note of the intention of the Government to ratify the Additional Protocol to the American Convention on Human Rights in the Area of Economic, Social and Cultural Rights (Protocol of San Salvador). 176. The Committee welcomes the establishment of the Office for Human Rights and of the Defensoría del Pueblo (Ombudsman) as well as the commission mandated to follow up the international recommendations addressed to the Government of Colombia, and hopes that, in its next report, the Government will provide a detailed account of the activities and progress made by those bodies, as well as of the role played by the tutela mechanism established by the 1991 Constitution for the protection of economic, social and cultural rights. 177. The Committee takes note of the adoption of the Development Plan for the period 1994-1998 - the "Social Leap" - and acknowledges the efforts made by the Government to respond to the acute social problems affecting the country. Although aware of the persistence of these problems, it commends the Government’s programmes to improve the social welfare system, enhance access to education, promote the rights of indigenous peoples and improve care for the homeless, particularly street children. 178. The Committee welcomes the Government’s determination to respond to the problem of violence against women by reviewing relevant provisions of the criminal law and by improving its programmes on behalf of women. It also