A/61/490 society organizations in their work to improve the human rights situation in the various countries. 26. There have been a number of changes and situation of indigenous people in Guatemala. awareness of the need to prioritize human rights has led to the creation of various forums for peoples and the Government. improvements in the human rights The State authorities’ increasing issues is especially significant and dialogue between the indigenous 27. Official recognition of crimes committed during the armed conflict and having a profound impact on indigenous communities is also particularly significant. In that respect, the importance of the first cases of judicial sentences for discrimination against indigenous people should be stressed. 28. In spite of this significant progress, the visit to Guatemala also created an opportunity to illustrate that the level of discrimination and racism against indigenous peoples is still very high, and the status of indigenous women and children was cause for much concern. During his mission, the Special Rapporteur was also able to observe great delays in the process to implement the Peace Agreements, in particular the Agreement on Identity and Rights of Indigenous Peoples. The bodies created for the protection of indigenous rights do not have an adequate institutional base or budgetary allocations. The system of justice administration requires substantial and urgent support in order to ensure that indigenous persons, especially indigenous women, have access to it when their human rights are violated. The recognition of indigenous customary law, under the umbrella of Guatemalan legislation itself and within the framework of respect for international human rights standards, is therefore crucial. 29. Despite official recognition of the atrocities committed during the armed conflict and the State’s responsibility, the indigenous communities clearly feel that justice will not be served until all the perpetrators of these crimes are punished. 30. In Mexico, a number of activities have been aimed at developing an appropriate methodology to assess the degree of compliance with the Special Rapporteur’s recommendations. Together with governmental authorities and indigenous and human rights organizations, the Special Rapporteur has taken part in some of these activities. He has also visited indigenous communities in various parts of the country to obtain first-hand information. The authorities have dealt with some of the needs expressed by many indigenous communities in Mexico, providing such things as infrastructure works, social services and support for productive activities. Given the considerable backlog of accumulated needs, however, these forms of support have been insufficient. The portion of the Government’s budget devoted to solving the enormous problems facing indigenous communities has not been increased in recent years. Worse yet, in some cases the authorities have taken decisions on development projects in indigenous areas whose outcome could have a serious impact on human rights in the affected communities, as has been the case in the La Parota dam construction project in the State of Guerrero. Modification of the Indigenous Act of 2001 — which has been incorporated into the Constitution — and compliance with the San Andrés peace accords, as recommended in the Special Rapporteur’s report on his official mission to Mexico in 2003, are still pending. 31. On 2 and 3 October 2006, the Special Rapporteur took part in a meeting held in Ottawa with representatives of the Government of Canada and various indigenous 8 06-55256