Madame President, We appreciate the space given to us to discuss the challenges and problems we the States face in the implementation of the Declaration. The presentations by the experts demonstrate that, despite the different political, social, and economic regional contexts, we share challenges in the protection of the rights of persons belonging to minority groups. Colombia is not the exception. We acknowledge the great challenges and the work that we still have left to do, in particular challenges related to armed conflict. Nevertheless, the Colombian State has the greatest compromise, at the highest level, of strengthening and widening the measures and policies towards minorities. Please allow me to share some examples of this compromise: The policies of the Colombian State promote the inclusion, recognition and respect of minorities, ethnic and cultural diversity, just as it is established by Article 7 of the Political Constitution of 1991; this being the case, the Colombian Government extends its efforts to combating discrimination and racism, just as it is confirmed by the approved laws and the programs designed in accordance to such laws. One of the most important executive functions of the Government is the Institutional Offer directed to minorities. For this, the Presidential Program for the Integral Development of the Afro-Colombian, Black, Palenquera and Raizal Population (ANPR) is implemented and was created by the President of the Republic through Decree 4697 on December 17, 2010 with the aim of facilitating the continuation of public policies for descendants of African heritage. Its final objective is to support the implementation of strategies that allow for the advancement of the improvement of the quality of life of the ANPR population. Institutional Strengthening: Support the municipalities and departments with a majority ANPR population in the management of administrative and mission improvement, as well as the processes for social and economic inclusion of their societies. Combating Institutional Deficiency: Manage, implement, and support the institutional offer trough the articulation of the Agencies of State and Cooperation, the continuation of policies of development and the construction of consensus and agreements that guarantee improving the life conditions of minority communities. Strengthen the Formation of Human Capital: Manage the processes of human capital through the application of affirmative actions and the promotion of leadership in the juvenile and youth population with a gender perspective.