A/HRC/13/72 remain isolated and limited. The Trust Fund for victims provided for in Law 975 (2005) (which is meant to receive cash and properties from perpetrators admitted in the procedures provided by the Law), has not received expected resources.27 In this respect, proceedings for the confiscation of property rights (extinción de dominio) should be expedited and property in the hands of paramilitary proxies should be reverted to legitimate owners. 85. A key opportunity was lost when Congress failed to adopt a victims’ law in June 2009. Such a law that is consistent with international standards remains a desirable addition to the transitional justice framework for Colombia. It could fill the gaps in the judicial and administrative reparation processes, incorporate mechanisms for restitution of goods and property, including lands transferred to third parties or proxies, and provide for reparations for violations of social, economic, and cultural rights, with differentiated attention according to age, ethnicity and gender. M. Poverty and economic, social and cultural rights 86. Poverty and extreme poverty, inequality and the internal armed conflict continue to restrict enjoyment of economic, social and cultural rights. It remains an imperative for the Government to fight poverty and to reduce the significant gaps between the rich and the poor. Poverty reduction strategies and policies must seek a fair distribution of the benefits of social development for all. 87. The Mission to Link Employment, Poverty and Inequality Surveys (MESEP) revealed that overall poverty levels have reached 46 per cent of the population and are even higher in rural areas (65.2 per cent). Extreme poverty has reached a national average of 17.8 per cent, but it is almost double in rural areas (32.6 per cent).28 Disparities are also found in other social indicators, such as illiteracy rates.29 Enjoyment of the right to health is also more restricted in rural areas, because of, inter alia, physical obstacles to access to services, lack of infrastructure and information, and the impact of the internal armed conflict. Profound socio-economic disparities can be detected between departments.30 The data on the Millennium Development Goals, disaggregated by region, show that while some departments have achieved their proposed objectives, others are lagging far behind. 88. In the framework of the Millennium Development Goals, some areas require particular attention by decision-makers. Gender equality, environmental sustainability and housing are among the areas that have received fewer resources in departmental development plans.31 89. There are an estimated 4.3 million undernourished persons in Colombia, equivalent to 10 per cent of the total population.32 As a result of the internal armed conflict, activities to obtain traditional sources of food, such as fishing and hunting, have been interrupted or 27 28 29 30 31 32 GE.10-11819 By December 2009, funds amounted to approximately Col$ 27 billion (US$ 14 million), while the 2009 budgeted amount under Decree 1290 was approximately Col$ 200 billion (US$ 100 million). Phase 1, MESEP Labour Market, Poverty and Inequality (2002–2008), executive summary, November 2009. In rural areas, it reaches 14.8 per cent, while the national average is 6.9 per cent (Quality of Life Survey 2008, Departamento Administrativo Nacional de Estadísticas (DANE)). The Human Development Index for Bogota is 84.3; it is 67.4 for Chocó and 72.2 for Caquetá (National University of Colombia). “The Contribution of Departmental Development Plans to Achievement of the Millennium Development Goals”, Colombia Líder, October 2009. Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations/World Food Programme, The State of Food Insecurity in the World (Rome, 2009). 17