A/72/291
a human rights culture, which aims at implementing measures for changing behaviour
that are contrary to the principles of human rights.
13. The Government has also informed the Special Rapporteur that the Ministry of
the Interior implemented a “More equality and less discrimination” campaign,
which aimed at tackling indifference and ignorance with regard to the right to
equality and non-discrimination. The campaign included awareness-raising tools,
such as pocket-sized brochures, radio and television spots and the dissemination of
messages in the public transport system and through social networks, reaching more
than 1 million people in the country’s main cities. The Government also developed
and implemented a national campaign entitled “Hour against racism” to celebrate
the Afro-Colombian identity. The event is observed on 21 May and involves public
institutions, the private sector and civil society.
14. The Government has developed an online course entitled “Afro-Colombia:
recognition, justice and development”, designed for civil society, public officials
and members of the armed forces. The course covers the history of people of
African descent throughout the world and their contributions to the building of the
nation of Colombia. Efforts are also under way to enhance the capacity of public
officials at the national and local levels to undertake affirmative action programmes
to combat racism and promote respect for the rights of members of the black,
Afro-Colombian, Raizal and Palenquero populations. By the end of 2017, those
efforts will have reached at least 1,000 officials.
15. Provisions against racial discrimination are provided for in the Criminal Code.
Under Act No. 1482 of 2011, discrimination on the grounds of race, nationality,
gender, sexual orientation or disability is criminalized. Infractions are punishable by
12 to 36 months imprisonment. Harassment is also considered an offense.
Legislators in Colombia are currently drafting a bill requiring the provision of equal
opportunities for the Afro-Colombian population, recognizing the right of the black
and Afro-Colombian communities to ethnic identity and ensuring affirmative actions
to guarantee the principle of equality for members of those groups.
16. The Government recalls that the Observatory on Racial Discrimination is a
mechanism for monitoring and following up on discriminatory and racist acts in
order to produce input for public policy, and note s that the Ministry of the Interior
and the Office of the Presidential Adviser for Huma n Rights are part of the
Ibero-American Network of Agencies and Organizations against Discrimination.
B.
El Salvador
17. The Government has informed the Special Rapporteur that, following the
appropriate consultations, the Directorate General for Comprehensive Social
Development has indicated that it has no information to provide in connection with
the resolution, given that in El Salvador there is no glorification of Nazism or of any
of the organizations relating to it, and Nazi atrocities are denounced in teaching
materials for history classes.
C.
Guatemala
18. The Government of Guatemala has informed the Special Rapporteur that
Guatemala is a multicultural, multilingual and multi-ethnic country. According to
data, 41 per cent of the population identifies as being members of indigenous
groups, including the officially recognized Mayan, Garifuna and Xinka groups. A
total of 51 per cent of the indigenous population are women. The Government
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