E/CN.4/2005/18/Add.5 page 10 22. Representatives of indigenous peoples have expressed their fear that big economic development projects, particularly in the fields of tourism, mining and farming, will contribute to dispossessing them of their lands. There is indeed a growing pressure on these peoples to sell their lands to businesses. Despite the fact that Honduras is a party to the International Labour Organization (ILO) Convention concerning Indigenous and Tribal Peoples in Independent Countries (No. 169) of 1989, the representatives of indigenous peoples believe that the State does not provide effective protection for them. The Special Rapporteur’s attention was also drawn to the high rates of malnutrition and mortality among indigenous children. B. State of neglect of the department of Gracias a Dios and situation of the crayfish fishermen 23. During his visit to Puerto Lempira, in the department of Gracias a Dios, which is inhabited mostly by the Miskito and Garifuna, the Special Rapporteur saw for himself the state of neglect of this department, which lacks essential health and education infrastructure. The marginalization of the department is well illustrated by the deplorable situation of the crayfish fishermen, with whom the Special Rapporteur met. These fishermen suffer cerebral and physical injuries as a result of the frantic pace of underwater dives imposed by boat owners in violation of the health regulations and national legislation governing this type of activity, and are left to fend for themselves after accidents. They do not receive adequate social or medical assistance and, if they die, their families are rarely compensated. Of 1,100 working divers, 350 to 400 have an accident in any one year.6 24. Although the situation of crayfish fishermen is not the direct result of deliberate racial discrimination, the Special Rapporteur’s attention was drawn to the fact that virtually all the victims of diving accidents are of Miskito or Garifuna origin, while the boat owners and captains, as well as the exporters, are Ladinos. There may therefore be a real link between the ethnic and racial origin of these fishermen and their neglect, not to say their exploitation, in the course of their work. 25. The Special Rapporteur was also told that the region’s remoteness leaves it open to the activities of drug-traffickers, who corrupt young people by involving them in the sale of drugs or encouraging them to take drugs. IV. ANALYSIS AND EVALUATION OF THE POLITICAL AND LEGAL STRATEGY AND THE INSTITUTIONAL FRAMEWORK 26. The Honduran Government is beginning to recognize and come to terms with the ethnic and cultural diversity of the country and to grasp the urgency of the situation of indigenous peoples and the Garifuna. However, the Special Rapporteur wonders if the Honduran authorities’ reluctance to approach the situation of indigenous peoples and the Garifuna from the viewpoint of racial discrimination might not be undermining the action being taken. 27. Several government representatives considered that Honduras was not fertile ground for racial discrimination because of the extent of interbreeding in the population. Some State officials, including some from the judicial sector, have tried to argue that the limited number, if