E/CN.4/1997/71/Add.1 page 17 III. CONCLUSIONS AND RECOMMENDATIONS 66. At the end of his visit, the Special Rapporteur held a working meeting with the Colombian authorities, to whom he made his recommendations orally. He informed them of the fear among the populations concerned that legislation would remain a dead letter, because they believe that there is a lack of political will. The Government of Colombia said that it was closely monitoring the situation and asserted its determination to enforce the 1991 Constitution and Act No. 70 and to effect the necessary changes. 67. Finally, the Commission and the international community should be informed that the indigenous communities with whom the Special Rapporteur met, who suffer constant racial discrimination, view the United Nations as “the Messiah” and place all their hopes in it. From Buenaventura to Quibdo, in the small village of Sanceno, and in Tumco, when the discussions were over, the same question was asked: “So what can the United Nations do for us to change and improve our situation?” 68. The Special Rapporteur reiterates his recommendations below: (a) An act on racism and racial discrimination should be adopted; (b) The programme Sábados Felices should be banned; (c) The process of distributing land to the Afro-Colombian and indigenous populations should be speeded up; (d) The administrative problems connected with subsidies to the resguardos should be resolved; (e) Awareness of human rights should be developed in the army and the police, whose personnel should receive appropriate training; (f) The Afro-Colombian and indigenous populations should participate more fully in the taking of decisions of concern to them; (g) More respect should be shown for the economic, social and cultural rights of the populations concerned when development plans are drawn up and implemented, especially in the Pacific region; (h) conflict. The populations should be protected from violence in the areas of