In contrast only three out of four non-indigenous citizens live in poverty. To achieve this task, the report s authors gathered together a wide variety of existing statistical information on income, wealth, satisfaction of basic needs, access to services and infrastructure, health and levels of formal education. Because of the dearth of recent data of this kind, some of the information they cite dates back to 1989. A glance through the report s 190 pages reveals that as of 1990 Mayans completed on average 1.3 years of schooling compared to 4.5 for the non-indigenous population. These inequalities are even more marked in the case of indigenous women, children, and campesinos, the report states.
Racism is also an important factor.
Despite this bleak picture, the report also notes several encouraging trends in recent years that could contribute to overcoming the legacy of the past. They cite a dynamic and growing Mayan movement, the ratification of ILO Convention 169 on Indigenous and Tribal Peoples, the international campaign commemorating 500 years of resistance by indigenous peoples in the Americas, the U. N. Decade of Indigenous Peoples and, most importantly, the 1996 peace accords, especially the Accord on Indigenous Peoples Identity and Rights.