A/HRC/45/44/Add.1 autonomous governments, and guides have been prepared in coordination with the National Equality Councils on including the policy in local planning. These guides include a document on approaches to equality in local planning, forming part of a toolbox of normative and operative resources to facilitate the inclusion of issues relating to nationalities, gender, disabilities, intergenerational aspects and human mobility in the decentralized autonomous governments’ planning. 29. According to the Government, police training has been conducted to address racial profiling and discrimination in law enforcement. With regard to representation, the Directorate of Human Rights and Gender Equality – of the Office of the Under-Secretary for Public Security, within the Ministry of the Interior – has coordinated with the National Police’s promotion commission with a view to ensuring compliance with article 95 of the Organic Code governing Public Security and Public Order Institutions, which provides that in promotion processes, equality and non-discrimination criteria are to be considered and affirmative action taken in favour of the Afro-Ecuadorian, indigenous and Montubio peoples. 30. According to the Government, it has also taken action to promote greater knowledge and respect for the heritage and culture of Afro-Ecuadorians, including the following initiatives: repositories of memories of Afro-Ecuadorian society in Esmeraldas and Quito, artistic events, conferences, book launches, forums and exhibitions. The National Assembly officially declared 2 October as the national day of Afro-Ecuadorians, with various events in celebration, and gave formal recognition to Alonso de Illescas as a national hero. 31. The Working Group welcomes the work of the Ombudsman to promote and protect the human rights of people of African descent on the basis of its constitutional mandate, including its reports and studies on the right to equality and non-discrimination, and its statements, resolutions and case work. The Working Group welcomes the new Organic Act on the Ombudsman’s Office, in force since April 2019, which creates a national mechanism for the protection and promotion of the rights of indigenous, Afro-Ecuadorian and Montubio peoples. 32. The Working Group also welcomes the vibrant and active Afro-Ecuadorian civil society and their initiatives to promote and protect the human rights of people of African descent and raise awareness about Afro-Ecuadorian identity. IV. Manifestations of racial discrimination 33. Despite the progressive legal provisions of the Constitution, the recognition of the collective rights of people of African descent and the positive institutional and policy developments referred to above, the Working Group is concerned about the human rights situation of people of African descent in Ecuador. There has not yet been effective implementation and enforcement of laws and policy to protect their human rights. The Working Group was informed of several cases of serious human rights violations and lack of access to protection and justice for people of African descent. 34. Afro-Ecuadorians continue to suffer racial discrimination, particularly with regard to their access to justice, security, land, clean water, education, health care, housing and employment. People of African descent make up 7.2 per cent of the Ecuadorian population, yet they constitute 40 per cent of Ecuadorians living in poverty. According to the National Statistics and Census Institute the Province of Esmeraldas, of which 68.25 per cent of the population is of African descent, is one of the poorest and most excluded in Ecuador: 84.6 per cent of the population live below the poverty line, 15.3 per cent are illiterate and 23 per cent have basic services. The province also has the highest rates of maternal mortality, gender-based violence and teenage pregnancy. The gap between the social indicators of the northern border communities and the national rates are a clear expression of a development policy that has not prioritized these communities. In recent years, Ecuador has made significant investments in the border area, particularly on roads, schools, health centres and infrastructure. However, this increased investment has not been accompanied by the commitment to strengthen the relevant institutions. There is weak presence of the administration of justice and of ministries such as the Ministry of Labour or the Ministry of 7