A/HRC/13/59 37. Poverty has a negative impact on the enjoyment of many rights (such as education, housing and health) and reinforces negative stereotypes of Afro-descendents in the wider public consciousness. The experts encourage the Government to continue to implement programmes to alleviate the poverty endured by Afro-Ecuadorian families and to explore new and innovative income-generating projects. The experts took note that the Government is developing a plan for the redistribution of land, particularly of unused land owned by the Government. This would be an important economic stimulus for Afro-descendent families that benefit from this plan and has the potential to contribute significantly to alleviating poverty in rural areas. The experts suggest that any such redistribution programme should be accompanied by the technical assistance necessary to enable the land to be a viable income-generator for the beneficiary. B. Policies for the integration of people of African descent 38. Racism in Ecuador is not manifested openly in society. There are no racist movements, for example. The Government recognizes that racism exists, however, and has taken, and continues to take, measures to combat it. The creation of CODAE represents a laudable initiative that demonstrates the Government’s commitment to improving the situation of people of African descent, including by addressing the racism and discrimination faced by them. Under the Government’s plan to implement the new constitution adopted, CODAE will be replaced by an Equity Council for Afro-descendents. The experts hope that this Equity Council will continue to make important strategic contributions to the fight against racism faced by Afro-Ecuadorians. The experts are also pleased to highlight that the National Plan against Racism and Discrimination currently being developed will include quotas for the number of Afro-Ecuadorian staff to be employed in the civil service. 39. The experts were pleased to hear that the Quito municipal authorities have taken numerous actions in favour of the Afro-Ecuadorian population, including an international forum of the Coalition of Latin-American and Caribbean Cities against Racism, a campaign to encourage literacy and the completion of studies by Afro-descendent students and the strategic municipal plan for overall development of the Afro-descendent population in Quito. Special mention should be made of the Municipal Social Council for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination that was created by the Quito authorities to combat discrimination and promote harmonious coexistence and interculturality. The Council includes both Government and civil society representatives. Similarly, the municipal ordinance for social inclusion, with an ethnocultural focus, of the Afro-Ecuadorian community is to be commended. This ordinance stipulates that the City of Quito must, in an equitable manner, incorporate the Afro-descendent population into the plans, programmes, projects and services that it executes. 40. At the national level, the National Development Plan 2007–2010 contains many policies, programmes and other elements that promote the integration of the Afrodescendent population. The Ministry of Labour, for example, has a programme “Work without discrimination” which guarantees that at least 3 per cent of posts and contracts in the public and private sector will be for Afro-descendants. C. Measures to promote a greater knowledge of and respect for the heritage and culture of people of African descent 41. On several occasions, the experts were informed that there was a lack of information on the history and culture of Afro-Ecuadorians in school curricula and that this was one of the reasons that there was the scant knowledge and appreciation in the general population 12 GE.10-10207