E/CN.4/1998/38 page 17 committed by these groups as one of its priorities. The Human Rights Unit was currently engaged in 29 investigations in that connection and had issued arrest warrants for members of those groups. 76. Non-governmental sources said that, since the beginning of 1997, the actions of paramilitary groups had spread throughout the national territory. In carrying out their actions the groups had committed serious violations consisting of executions, forced disappearances and torture of a dreadfully cruel nature on all kinds of victims. They had also caused the displacement of entire populations. In addition, as was typical since they had emerged, they had carried out their actions in highly militarized zones and no clashes had occurred with public security forces. In some cases joint actions with the army had even been reported. 77. These same sources note that the Government's attitude towards these groups was permissive, inasmuch as they had not adopted policies to combat them. Moreover, a tendency was observed to actually legitimize them by creating and encouraging the so-called “Convivir” (coexistence) groups. These were organizations of private individuals called on to provide special vigilante and private security services, with official authorization to use weapons meant for the exclusive use of the public security forces. Although the law was not clear in determining the activities of these organizations, they were officially pictured as engaged in intelligence work in armed conflict zones, helping the army to combat the guerrillas. This meant that tasks which were rightly the work of the military were being delegated to private individuals, which was contrary to the provisions of the Constitution, according to which these tasks could only be carried out by the military and the police forces. An application of unconstitutionality against the decree creating these groups was currently under examination by the Constitutional Court. 78. During 1997 the activity of these groups has been stepped up in the municipalities of Yondó, Dadeiba, Remedios and Santa Rosa de Osos, in the Department of Antioquia; Carmen de Bolívar, Río Viejo and Tiquisio Nuevo, in the Department of Bolívar; Milán, in the Department of Caquetá; La Jagua de Ibirico, El Copey and La Paz, in the Department of César; Riosucio, in the Department of Chocó; Abrego, in the Department of Norte de Santander, and Mapiripán, in the Department of Meta. 79. The Special Rapporteurs recommended the adoption of measures to protect those at risk of “social cleansing” killings, in particular street children. 80. The Government pointed out that the President's Social Solidarity Network was conducting a special programme to promote the rights and the protection of the homeless in 12 cities. This was currently being worked on in an inter-agency committee trying to strengthen the “Care for street children” programme. 81. Non-governmental sources said that, between October 1995 and September 1996, 314 people had died as a consequence of violence against the socially marginalized. In almost 40 per cent of the cases those responsible for the actions were unknown. Among the other cases, the paramilitary groups were mainly responsible, accounting for 57 per cent of cases. Moreover, the