A/HRC/13/59 frank dialogue with governmental authorities on areas of concern and to gather information on actions, measures and policies enacted to overcome the problems faced by people of African descent living in the country. 52. The experts are concerned with the existence of a general tolerance in society of racist attitudes directed at people of African descent. The experts note that the Government is well aware of the problems faced by people of African descent in Ecuador and recognizes that racism exists in their country. 53. The experts welcome the new Constitution adopted in 2008 which contains several provisions designed to advance the situation of people of African descent. The experts take note that the very specific article in the Constitution, according to which Afro-Ecuadorian people have collective rights, could play a positive role in addressing discrimination against Afro-Ecuadorian people by enhancing the enjoyment of the right not to be subject to racism or any other form of discrimination based on their origin, ethnic identity or culture. 54. The experts perceive the current situation as a period of transition in which the results of legislative and institutional changes are yet to be fully seen. The experts encourage the Government to continue to adopt the necessary legislation which will offer a real opportunity to redress the historic, structural and long-endured discrimination faced by people of African descent in Ecuador. 55. During the visit, the experts identified the existence of a generalized feeling among people of African descent of being discriminated against (structural and widespread in everyday life) which, according to them, is based on widely held stereotypes and prejudices. During the visit, the experts also identified areas where people of African descent find themselves in a disempowered situation vis-à-vis the mainstream community. These areas are: access to employment, housing, education, access to fundamental services, and participation in public life. 56. The experts endorse the creation of CODAE under the President’s jurisdiction. It was evident to the experts that CODAE plays a fundamental role in combating discrimination against Afro-descendents through its policy development, programmes and outreach to civil society. The experts view the announced replacement of CODAE by an Equity Council for Afro-descendents as a step forward in the fight against discrimination. 57. The experts are also pleased to highlight that the National Plan against Racism and Discrimination currently being developed will include quotas on Afro-Ecuadorian personnel in the civil service. 58. The experts praise the efforts of the Ecuadorian authorities in providing free education at the primary level which enables people of African descent greater access to education. The experts are concerned at the higher levels of illiteracy than the national average among the Afro-Ecuadorian population and their traditionally lower levels of school attendance. The experts are specifically concerned by the limited number of Afro-Ecuadorian children who complete primary education, the lower number who continue on to secondary education and the exceptionally few who enrol in universities. 59. The experts are also concerned by the absence of a multicultural approach in education which expresses Afro Ecuadorian history, culture and tradition. The experts take note of the efforts of civil society to produce educative modules on the history of Ecuadorians of African descent in the hope that these modules will be included in the syllabus of local schools. The experts invite the Government to support and assume a leading role in these efforts. GE.10-10207 15