A/HRC/4/48 page 6 10. Drug trafficking continued to aggravate the internal armed conflict, particularly the actions of illegal armed groups. Drug trafficking also became the driving force behind the new illegal armed groups, whose existence presents important challenges for the success of the paramilitary demobilization and reintegration process and future peace processes.3 11. In contrast with 2002, the Congressional and Presidential elections of March and May 2006 took place in a calmer atmosphere, although in some more remote areas the FARC-EP disrupted preparations for the elections. The paramilitary groups tried to influence the electoral process in order to promote the election to Congress of candidates sympathetic to their interests. Also during the pre-electoral period, in several regions of the country there was an increase in threats against journalists and human rights defenders. President Uribe was re-elected in the first round and his coalition won majorities in both legislative chambers. The presidential candidate of the leftist opposition party, the Alternative Democratic Pole, won 22 per cent of votes. Although the authorities tried to guarantee the free exercise of political rights, the two electoral rounds were characterized by high levels of abstention. 12. During 2006 serious questions were raised regarding acts of corruption by high-level public servants. In several regions, there were reports about the financial influence of illegal armed groups and drug trafficking in local governments. 13. The Constitutional Court continued to play an important role in the defence of human rights. The Procurator General’s Office and the municipal councillors (personeros) also stood out in this regard, and the Ombudsman’s Office made important contributions, in spite of its limitations in terms of budget and personnel. 14. Economic growth reached 6 per cent in 2006. This stands out as an important macroeconomic variable in reducing the country’s significant poverty rates. The census held in 2005 provided information on achievements and important challenges in the areas of poverty reduction and overcoming inequity. II. MAIN ACHIEVEMENTS AND CHALLENGES IN PUBLIC POLICIES AND FOLLOW-UP OF RECOMMENDATIONS 15. The High Commissioner has observed a greater commitment on the part of the Colombian authorities in seeking to achieve the objectives of the recommendations made in her previous reports on the situation of human rights and IHL in Colombia, and also greater efforts to assess their practical impact. At the end of the year, the picture regarding their implementation was still mixed, particularly in the case of the recommendations on the review of intelligence files, the reduction of impunity, the cutting of links between public servants and members of paramilitary groups, and the improvement of the quality of statistics on human rights and IHL. 3 With the aim of strengthening the policy of combating drug trafficking, the Vice-President, while travelling abroad, launched a “campaign for shared responsibility”, highlighting the importance of eradicating the consumption of drugs in receiving countries.