A/HRC/30/41/Add.1 has not taken the necessary measures to put this prohibition into practice, and a general anti-discrimination law has yet to be passed. The Truth and Justice Commission has made some important remarks and recommendations that have not yet been acted upon. 44. Socioeconomic marginalization is due, in part, to racism and discrimination, which are also reflected in the measures intended to combat its effects. The Special Rapporteur found that a paternalistic approach was being taken in many of the programmes developed by government bodies, including those being conducted by INDI, with indigenous peoples and individuals being viewed as defen celess recipients or wards of the State rather than as the holders of rights that should be respected, protected and applied. 45. The patterns of systematic discrimination that persist in the Mennonite settlements, where a State presence is notably absent, are of concern and are associated with multiple violations of the human rights of the indigenous peoples living there. 16 During the Special Rapporteur ’s visit to the Ujeslavos community, she was told about discriminatory practices dealing with access to employment and healthcare services that deprive indigenous employees of sufficient social protection. She also learned how the use of temporary employment arrangements effectively limit workers’ social security benefits and their health-care coverage under the Ayuda Mutua Hospitalaria insurance programme. 46. Some recent articles and statements that have appeared in the press also reflect a deep-rooted racist attitude towards indigenous people. This attitude has been fuelled by the plight of displaced indigenous peoples in the cities, where they find themselves in difficult straits. The Special Rapporteur has also been apprised of instances of discrimination in working conditions and access to employment. 47. Efforts to combat discrimination are hampered by a lack of disaggregated data on the situation of indigenous peoples. Problems still remain in terms of providing national identity documentation to indigenous persons, although the Ministry of the Interior does state that it is making progress in this area. E. Economic, social and cultural rights 1. Socioeconomic situation 48. The socioeconomic problems of the indigenous peoples of Paraguay cannot be separated from the socioeconomic circumstances of the country as a whole. As pointed out by the Special Rapporteur on extreme poverty and human rights, there are a series of structural factors in Paraguay, including corruption, vast inequality, a regressive tax structure, the concentration of landownership and environmental degradation, which, combined with institutional weaknesses, hinder progress in alleviating poverty. 17 The country’s development model, which promotes rapid economic growth through activities such as mono-cropping — particularly in the case of the massive expansion of soybean cultivation — and livestock, has resulted in the highest rate of deforestation in the world, exacerbating existing environmental problems caused by transgenic crops and the extensive use of chemical fertilizers and pesticides. 49. Although overall poverty in Paraguay 18 appears to have declined, available data indicate that the rates of poverty and extreme poverty among indigenous peoples are __________________ 16 17 18 12/24 See A/HRC/19/60/Add.1, para. 49. A/HRC/20/25/Add.2. 2014 Continuing Household Survey. Main results for poverty and income distribution. DirectorateGeneral for Statistics, Surveys and Censuses (DGEEC). GE.15-13734