We, the representatives of the nationalities, indigenous and afro-Andean
and gypsy peoples, as well as numerous organizations, movements and
entities committed to the fight against racism, xenophobia and intolerance,
met in Quito (Ecuador) from the 16-18 of November, 2000 in the Andean
Forum for Diversity and Pluralism. With representatives from Ecuador,
Colombia, Venezuela, Peru and Bolivia, this was a civil society subregional
meeting in preparation for the "World Conference against Racism, Racial
Discrimination, Xenophobia and Related Intolerance" (UN/ South Africa,
2001).

Considering that:

1. In the Andean sub-region, racism and racial discrimination, in its
multiple expressions of exclusion, takes on massive structural and
historical characteristics, that cross-cut with impunity all our
societies;

2. There exists a structural breach that segregates the participation of
blacks, indigenous peoples and gypsies in political, social and
economic processes and, moreover, in all our countries,
education, employment and social services are a privilege
inaccessible to the majority of our nationalities and peoples;

3. The nationalities, indigenous, afro-Andean and gypsy peoples,
which are those most affected by structural racism, not only
confront a socio-economic gap, but also their world views,
cultures and languages have been devalued;

4. The development model chosen by the regional governments,
tends to increment the interethnic disparities, driving
discriminated peoples and sectors towards greater exclusion.
5. Discriminatory manifestations are explicit with respect to
development or self development options. The limited proposals
directed towards the discriminated nationalities, peoples and
sectors by the institutions responsible, are made without
consulting with them and, invariably, without considering their
own options, ways of life and worldviews.

6. Despite the fact that the Andean sub-region is eminently
multiethnic, institutions continue following extraneous models.
One notorious example is formal education: monolingual and
alien to the history, culture and knowledge of the many peoples
that make up the region. A similar situation applies to all the
ancestral knowledge and cultural manifestations that are devalued
and, in cases, even punished. Even more notorious is the open
rejection of our own ways of governing, proposals for autonomy,
the recognition of territories and the access to natural resources
and goods, among others.

7. The depletion of the environment, which benefits the market, has
occurred without reparation in the indigenous and black
territories, settlements, and communities.

8. Even those countries which include anti-discriminatory principles
in their Constitutions lack appropriate mechanisms to make these
principles viable. Most legislation maintains racist,
discriminatory and intolerant criteria, which are matched by
social, media and cultural practices.

9. In the sub-region, racism, xenophobia and intolerance are
interrelated problems, which are further aggravated when they
intersect with other forms of intolerance and discrimination, such
as those due to: gender, age, sexual orientation, social class,
handicap, religious beliefs, political or ideological option or
being seropositive.

10. Mass migrations, internal displacement and refugees, subjected
to inhumane conditions, are largely the consequence of poor
management of internal conflict and submissive to the demands
of the market.

We recommend that the Preparatory Meeting of the Americas for the
World Conference Against Racism, Racial Discrimination,
Xenophobia and Related Intolerance take into consideration in its Plan
of Action the following aspects:

a) The universal adoption of the ethical proposals of diversity,
pluralism, interculturalism and gender equality as necessary
elements for the construction of true, participative democracies
and cultures of peace;

b) The adoption of concrete measures, with mechanisms and
resources, that aim at the full eradication of racism, racial
discrimination, xenophobia and intolerance. This includes:
programs of integral development for the affected nationalities,
peoples and sectors, the recognition of territories and access to
natural resources; the prioritization of investments and resources,
oriented towards the reduction of the structural breach between
the nationalities and different peoples.

c) The design of legal and regulatory instruments that penalize
racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia, and the outlining of
policies that guarantee our rights and cultural identity of the
nationalities and peoples.

d) The adoption of concrete measures that guarantee the
participation of the discriminated nationalities, peoples and
sectors in all social institutions, especially in the decision making
sphere, in the design, formulation, execution and evaluation of
policies, programs, plans and projects, related to their peoples.

e) The establishment of permanent consultative mechanisms with
the nationalities and indigenous and black peoples, for the
adoption of any developmental, economic, social, educational,
environmental, political, scientific or other plan, related to the
destiny of these peoples.

f) The cessation of environmental marketing and the protection of
ecosystems, their biodiversity and natural resources.

g) The repealing of all laws that discriminate against people on
account of sexual orientation, gender, age, religious belief and
political ideologies and the establishment of legal measures to
sanction those that exhibit discrimination for these reasons.

h) The recognition of the right to communication for discriminated
peoples and sectors, the recognition of their right to free
expression, thought and opinion in all media, the strengthening of
the alternative press and the regulation of the diffusion of
programs with racist, sexist and homophobic content in the
media.

i) The implementation of educational reforms that respect diversity
and tolerance and incorporate the achievements of the black,
indigenous and gypsy peoples as a historical legacy of our region.

For the Andean Forum for Diversity and Pluralism, we sign,

Ecuador Colombia

Venezuela Peru

Bolivia