A/HRC/16/45/Add.1 21. Discrimination, poverty, and violence have had far-reaching impacts on AfroColombian culture and community structures. For example, community members in San Basilio de Palenque, where inhabitants maintain unique cultural elements of their African heritage, described to the independent expert how discrimination, loss of territory, poor access to education, public services and economic opportunities have led to social problems and cultural erosion. The Government, however, notes its commitment to ensuring the survival of Afro-Colombian, Black, Raizal and Palenquero cultures, languages and identities. B. Afro-Colombians’ disproportionate experience of poverty 22. The map of high-density Afro-Colombian populations overlaps almost completely with the map of areas of extreme poverty. Some Afro-Colombian rural areas and town ghettos experience extreme poverty rates of over 60 per cent and lack access to social services and assistance programmes. The five departments with the highest percentage of the population in poverty and with the lowest quality of life are those with the highest concentrations of Afro-Colombians (Bolívar, Cauca, Córdoba, Chocó, and Nariño). Surveys and Government sources12 reveal disturbing statistics. Some 80 per cent of AfroColombians do not have basic needs met. The 2005 census revealed that nearly 15 per cent of Afro-Colombians go hungry one or more days a week, over double the national average. Nearly a quarter of Afro-Colombians lack sufficient income to ensure a basic nutritional diet. Access to clean water, sanitation and electricity is at markedly lower levels for many Afro-Colombians. Chocó has the lowest per capita level of social investment and ranked last in education, health, and infrastructure. 23. Life expectancy for Afro-Colombian women (66.7 years) is nearly 11 years less than the national average, while for men (64.6 years) it is nearly 6 years less. In Chocó, the child mortality rate is 54 per 1,000, compared with Medellín where it is 8 per 1,00013. The average female infant mortality rate for the Afro-descendant population is 43.9, while the national average is 2114. The maternal mortality national average is 74.9 deaths for every 100,000 live births, while in Chocó the rate is 227.415. Access to health-care services is extremely poor for many, particularly rural communities. 24. Those living in the most remote and inaccessible rural localities face particular and extreme challenges. The Government highlights problems of service delivery to such areas including lack of access and infrastructure for development and ongoing security concerns in areas strategically important for illegal armed groups. Afro-Colombian representatives believe that discrimination and neglect are important components in the poor delivery of services. 25. In predominantly Afro-Colombian urban centres, including Quibdó and Buenaventura, levels of poverty are disproportionately high and living conditions markedly deprived. Many Afro-Colombians live in poverty on the margins of urban centres as a consequence of violence and forced displacement from rural areas. Displaced rural communities, particularly women and children, have few resources and are ill-equipped for 12 13 14 15 Including the 2005 Census, Constitutional Court Order 005 of 2009 and the Intersectoral Commission for the Advancement of the Afro-Colombian, Palenquera and Raizal Population. National Health Survey (ENDS), 2005. DANE, Racial discrimination and human rights in Colombia: A report on the Situation of the Rights of Afro-Colombians, p. 29 Ministry of Social Protection, Panamerican Health Organization, Situación de salud en Colombia: Indicadores Básicos 2008. 7