Situation for minorities in Colombia needs to improve – UN expert
22 February 2010
The Colombian government should work to improve the situation of minority communities such as Afro-Colombians, Blacks, Raizals and Palenqueros, affected by displacement, dispossession, poverty and violence, the UN Independent Expert on minority issues, Ms. Gay McDougall, said at the conclusion of an official mission to the country.
At a press conference in Bogotá, Ms. McDougall, acknowledged Colombia's impressive legal framework aimed at preventing discrimination and guaranteeing equality. However, she added that, 'The vast majority of communities and organizations that I consulted complain that implementation of Colombia's legislation on Afro-Colombian communities remains woefully inadequate, limited and sporadic.'
'Most importantly, where steps have been taken, no real enforcement has followed...", she said.
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