A/HRC/10/82 Page 6 population and 3 per cent of the indigenous population, and both have legislation that acknowledges their rights to land, autonomy and culture preservation; affirmative action policies and entities dedicated to the development of these policies; and ethno-education and ethnoprotection programmes respecting their way of life. The delegation added that the national development plan includes a chapter with resources allocated to an ethnic approach to development. 14. With regard to homicides carried out by members of the armed forces against protected individuals, the delegation noted that the participation of individual members of the military forces in the death of persons out of combat is a shameful practice that the Government condemns. It stressed that, when President Alvaro Uribe took office, he ordered greater efficiency against violence and drug traffickers, with total transparency. “You will preserve the good name of the country only by the rigorous observance of human rights”, he said during his first speech to the military. The delegation reported that, since 2005, a number of actions concerning prevention, investigation and control have been taken. The delegation stated that the killing of non-combatants is an inexcusable crime, acknowledging that these events had taken place in the country and presented its sincere apologies to the victims, assuring them that none of these crimes will remain unpunished and that all necessary measures to prevent their repetition will be taken. 15. On questions relating to relations with human rights defenders, the delegation noted that the Government is implementing different policies to grant all guarantees to political parties, trade unionists, human rights defenders, ethnic groups, social leaders, journalists and witnesses of the Peace and Justice proceedings, among others, and has developed a permanent dialogue with them. The President has held prolonged meetings with the defenders and every 45 days he chairs a meeting with union leaders. The delegation cited a survey by Latinobarometer, which indicated that the legitimacy of Colombian democracy has doubled between 2002 and 2008 to more than 60 per cent, and that voters in the 2007 regional elections increased 30 per cent over the number registered for the elections in 2003. It stated that the Government had publicly rejected any attack against human rights defenders and wanted a more constructive relationship with human rights organizations, saying that dialogue constitutes the only way to enrich the different positions and benefit the enforcement of human rights in Colombia. It expressed willingness to carry out any reasonable effort to improve this relationship. 16. Colombia recalled having dedicated 14 paragraphs of the report to list 69 voluntary commitments that it will assume, asking for the solidarity and accompaniment of the international community for such a purpose. B. Interactive dialogue and responses by the State under review 17. During the interactive dialogue, 43 delegations made statements. 18. A number of delegations congratulated the Government on the quality of its presentation and report and on having voluntarily submitted to the review. Some also recognized the State’s transparency in the process. A number of delegations noted the State’s cooperation with the international community, and some cited cooperation with OHCHR and its extension of the memorandum of understanding on its presence until 2010; others referred to its cooperation with other United Nations mechanisms. Several welcomed the fact that the delegation was headed by the Vice-President of the State. Some also thanked Colombia for its replies to advance questions.