strictly confined to the limitations specified under article 4, and other States parties and the Committee should be duly notified of the facts and details of such derogations. The Committee hopes that the democratic system will be re-established as soon as possible. As elections for a Constituent Assembly have been scheduled for 22 November 1992, the Committee looks forward to seeing full implementation of the rights and freedoms under the Covenant in the near future. COLOMBIA 350. The Committee considered the third periodic report of Colombia (CCPR/C/64/Add.3) at its 1136th to 1139th meetings, on 2 and 3 April 1992 <CCPR/C/SR.1136-1139). (For the composition of the delegation, see annex VIII,) 351. The report was introduced by the representative of the State party, who explained that, although Colombia had enjoyed one of the highest levels of economic development in Latin America during the past 20 years, the country had been plagued by a guerrilla movement that had used social and economic disparities as justification for its actions. Terrorist groups associated with drug traffickers had threatened the country and brought the judicial system to the brink of collapse. Since such groups seemed to enjoy impunity, citizens had started losing faith in the State's capacity to defend them from guerrilla attacks. Accordingly, some individuals, occasionally with the complicity of government officials, had formed paramilitary groups that had launched extermination campaigns against persons suspected of belonging to the guerrilla movement. 352. In order to overcome those difficulties, the Colombian Government had proposed a negotiated settlement of the conflict with the guerrilla movement and a truce bad been signed, leading to the convening of a National Constituent Assembly in 1991. Members of the Assembly had been elected on the basis of a single national election district, which had given indigenous groups and other minorities an opportunity for representation. The result had been a pluralistic Constituent Assembly representing all sectors and political forces. The new Constitution, promulgated by the Constituent Assembly in July 1991, enshrined all the rights provided for in the Covenant and had increased the State's capacity to deal with drug traffickers. 353. Various other efforts had been made, including the development of an integrated policy on human rights, the adoption of a bill of rights and the constitutional recognition of the country's multicultural character. The state of emergency, which had been in effect for seven years, had been lifted in July 1991. Other positive developments included the introduction of a new legal remedy, tutela; the appointment of a parliamentary ombudsman; the strengthening of the protection of judges and witnesses; the institution of procedures for the immediate follow-up of reports of disappearances and the establishment of a new Constitutional Court to strengthen the protection of human rights. Additionally, fundamental changes had been introduced in the electoral system, with the Senate now also including representatives from indigenous communities; efforts had been made to encourage direct participation by citizens through the use of referendums and the introduction of democratic procedures in all aspects of public life; and various -83-