discrimination. In that respect, members wished to know whether the Convention was being directly invoked in Ecuador; they expressed surprise that apparently the Convention's provisions had never been invoked before the courts. Even if its Provisions had not been invoked, this did net suffice as evidence that there was no racial discrimination in Ecuador. 103. Members of the Committee indicated their desire for further information On the ethnic composition of the population; on protection of the natural environment, with which the ‘indigenous populations lived in close symbiosis: on the measures taken by the Government to protect the country's heritage and to preserve the cultural identity of minority groups; on the languages which could be used in the courts or in the administration; on the implementation of article 2, Paragraph 1 (a), of the Convention; on the measures taken to reduce unemplopent and to narrow the income gap; and on the enforcement of Law NO. 256 COnCerning -29- equality of men and women. Information was also requested concerning the measures taken in favour of certain Indian tribes - such as the coloradog - which were said to be disappearing; on the methods used by certain oil companies to establish themselves in various areas of the country where indigenous populations resided; and on the activities of the Instituto Lingiiistico de Verano. Questions were also raised about the persistence of a certain form of social marginalization, and the views expressed in a document of 1 August 1990 from the Confederation of Indigenous Nationalities of Ecuador, which referred to certain difficulties encountered by the indigenous populations. 104. Regarding the implementation of article 5 of the Convention, members noted with interest that Ecuador devoted 30 per cent of the State budget to education. In that connection, they wished to have more information concerning the progress 
**Analysis**
The text appears to be discussing the human rights situation in Ecuador, specifically in relation to the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination. The topics mentioned, such as the ethnic composition of the population, protection of the natural environment, and measures to reduce unemployment and narrow the income gap, suggest that the discussion is focused on the social and economic aspects of the country, rather than purely economic development or environmental issues.

**Category**
Education, Human rights, Employment