A/HRC/13/59 Afro-Ecuadorian Development, which is charged with developing policy to advance the situation of the Afro-Ecuadorian population. 16. The Corporation for Afro-Ecuadorian Development (CODAE) also falls under the jurisdiction of the Presidency of the Republic. 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. One of the most important initiatives under way at the moment to combat discrimination is the draft National Plan against Racism and Discrimination. The main goal of this project is to eliminate the different forms and practices of racial discrimination and ethnic-cultural exclusion, thereby promoting a pluralist, intercultural and inclusive society. The plan is intended to combat racial discrimination by focusing on the human, civil, political, economic, social, cultural and collective rights found in a diversity of international instruments. 3. Framework of the City of Quito 17. In Quito, a variety of measures have also been taken to promote the inclusion of the Afro-Ecuadorian population. In 2001, the City of Quito created the Afro-Descendant’s Unit within the Municipal Directorate of Social and Economic Development. The responsibilities of this unit were to establish and apply public policies for the development of the Afro-Ecuadorian people which aim at reducing poverty, strengthening selfmanagement and achieving the democratic integration of Afro-Ecuadorian people. Those aims were to be achieved with due regard to Afro-descendants’ own vision of development and enhancing their present resources, i.e., their human and social capital. Through this initiative, the City of Quito has implemented a diverse range of measures, among which, mention should be made of municipal ordinance for social inclusion, with an ethno-cultural focus, of the Afro-Ecuadorian community, which stipulates that the City of Quito must incorporate the Afro-descendent population into the plans, programmes, projects and services that it executes. III. People of African descent in Ecuador: general comments A. Participation of people of African descent in all political, economic, social and cultural aspects of society and in the advancement and economic development of the country 18. The Working Group experts were informed that CODAE is the national institution that formulates State policy for issues related to Ecuadorians of African descent. The Working Group was also informed that the Government is working on the National Plan against Racism and Discrimination and that, once completed, the actions of all State institutions will have to be in conformity with the plan. Both the policy formulation of CODAE and the content of the plan identify and address the most important challenges facing people of African descent in Ecuador. Through its many meetings held with State and Government officials and Afro-descendant communities, civil society representatives, academics, the international community and United Nations agencies, the experts found the following to be the most pressing issues as regards the participation of people of African descent in all political, economic, social and cultural aspects of society and in the advancement and economic development of their country. 1. Access to education 19. In the Working Group’s meetings with State authorities, it was emphasized that, for the first time, education at the primary level is free in Ecuador, including the provision of GE.10-10207 7