E/CN.4/2001/21 page 41 133. The project has evolved from the elaboration phase to that of implementation of the methodology. A corpus of cases and higher court judgements has been assembled to illustrate topics at the various levels of instruction and to establish points of contact between operational and military matters on the one hand, and human rights problems on the other. In addition, a team of specialized instructors is currently being strengthened in each army and police unit to ensure that the process is followed up and reproduced. 6. Fuller participation by the Afro-Colombian and indigenous populations in taking decisions which affect them 134. The participation of the Afro-Colombian population in Government decision-making bodies is a key proposal in ensuring that this ethnic group enjoys equality of opportunity. Although much remains to be done, the positive action that has been taken since the adoption of Act No. 70 (1993) on the rights of black communities is promoting consideration of this issue and enabling solutions to be mapped out. 135. In the same vein, indigenous communities have made wide use of the participative mechanisms envisaged under the 1991 Constitution, particularly those facilitating access to the courts and enabling the latter to settle disputes. Despite the significant progress that has been made, the Colombian Government believes that the process of ensuring full participation by ethnic minorities in the taking of decisions which concern them is still incomplete. 7. Greater respect for the economic, social and cultural rights of the populations concerned when development plans are drawn up and implemented, especially in the Pacific region 136. Article 57 of Act No. 70 (1993) stipulates that the Colombian Government should draw up a development plan for the black communities which will serve as a frame of reference for the policies of the National Development Plan. These policies must respect the ethnic diversity of the nation and promote the sustainable development of the Afro-Colombian population in harmony with its own ideas about development. 137. Accordingly, Decree No. 955 concerning the national investment plan for 1998-2002, which forms part of the National Development Plan entitled “Change for Building Peace”, stipulates that action by the authorities to help these communities should focus on the following subprogrammes: basic sanitation; health; education; productive activities and institutional development; and granting of land titles and land acquisition. 8. Protection of populations from violence in the areas of conflict 138. In order to deal with complaints concerning acts of violence and the existence of illegal armed formations which endanger the life of members of indigenous communities in the resguardos (indigenous reservations), the Colombian Government, through the Commission for the Human Rights of Indigenous Peoples and its subcommissions, has endeavoured to coordinate its action with security, supervisory and executive bodies in order to put a stop to such acts.