A/HRC/37/26 17. In August 2017, several special procedures mandate holders expressed deep concern about the proliferation of hate messages and incitement to violence against the Igbo minority and their property in Nigeria, especially in the light of the history of violence against the group. The experts also deplored the circulation of a hate song and audio messages on the Internet and on social media. 18. In September 2017, the High Commissioner for Human Rights, in an oral update to the thirty-sixth session of the Human Rights Council, expressed concern over the rise of intolerance towards religious and other minorities in India, where the current wave of violent and often lethal mob attacks against people, under the pretext of protecting the lives of cows, was alarming. He also emphasized that in Pakistan, the authorities often encouraged intolerance towards minorities or minority views, with sometimes deadly consequences. For example, suspicion of blasphemy or the suggestion that blasphemy laws required revision to comply with the right to freedom of thought and religion had led to vigilante violence.7 19. Throughout the year, treaty bodies and the universal periodic review have commended States for initiating or pushing forward with policies that target hate speech and have made recommendations for more efforts to fight and eradicate crimes and hate speech against minorities. 8 At the same time, they have expressed concern at the intensification of hostile sentiments towards persons perceived to be of foreign background, including persons belonging to ethnic and religious minorities (see CERD/C/FIN/CO/23, paras. 10–11) and for the lack of accountability of actors committing hate crimes (see CERD/C/CYP/CO/23-24, paras. 16–17). B. Non-discrimination guarantees 20. On 21 March 2017, in a statement marking the International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination, a number of United Nations experts on racial discrimination called on Governments around the world to take immediate action to stop the spread of fear and misinformation about minorities and migrants, which were fuelling increased incitement to racial hatred and racial profiling. They enumerated a number of measures that were needed immediately, including training for police and the judiciary and steps to eliminate institutional racism.9 The experts also warned that differences in the treatment of people of African descent and other minorities by law enforcement officials and within the criminal justice systems were not only ineffective but pernicious. They stated that racial profiling breached the basic right to equal protection before the law of the individuals targeted and urged Member States to address the structural racism such people suffered on account of their minority status. 21. While there has been normative progress in many countries, the findings of the Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination, other human rights treaty bodies and special procedures mandate holders demonstrate that persons belonging to national or ethnic, religious and linguistic minorities continue to be frequent targets of discrimination.10 A case in point is the persistent discrimination against Roma. Despite various strategies and other efforts aimed at advancing the protection of their rights, Roma continue to face discrimination in law enforcement, health, education and other fields. Human rights challenges experienced by Roma are common also in the area of housing, as has been highlighted by the Committee on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights and other treaty bodies.11 In addition, in the report on her official visit to the Republic of Moldova, the Special Rapporteur on minority issues noted that Roma communities continued to 7 8 9 10 11 See www.ohchr.org/EN/NewsEvents/Pages/DisplayNews.aspx?NewsID=22041&LangID=E. See, for example, A/HRC/36/8, para. 100.62, A/HRC/36/10, para. 161.133, and A/HRC/36/15, para. 131.88. See www.ohchr.org/EN/NewsEvents/Pages/DisplayNews.aspx?NewsID=21416&LangID=E. See, for example, CERD/C/AZE/CO/7-9, CERD/C/NAM/CO/13-15, CERD/C/GRC/CO/20-22 and CERD/C/UKR/CO/22-23, all of which touched on issues affecting minorities. See, for example, E/C.12/MKD/CO/1 and E/C.12/FRA/CO/4. 7