A/HRC/23/56/Add.2 regional initiatives implemented for the Roma, including the 2009–2013 Action Plan for the Roma Population in Catalonia. Initiatives such as IRIS, a regional governmental entity which implements programmes on housing including for the Roma, and ACCEDER, a programme managed by the NGO Fundación Secretariado Gitano focusing on employment, have contributed to the integration of the vast majority of the Roma. 27. At the institutional level, measures were taken to ensure the public recognition of the Roma culture and identity, including the establishment of the Institute for Roma Culture, and initiatives implemented at the regional levels, including in Andalusia and Catalonia, for the recognition and promotion of the Roma identity and culture. Further efforts should be made in this respect, as several NGOs indicated that institutional and social recognition of positive Roma values has yet to be achieved. The State Council for the Roma People is a key institution set up to advise the Government on policies concerning the Roma and is welcomed by the Special Rapporteur. However, criticism was put forth by some NGOs regarding the Council’s limited powers and possibilities of action since its opinions are not binding. It was also reported that its composition was not representative of all the Roma population. 28. The Special Rapporteur is concerned that there is still a segment of the Roma population that continues to face social exclusion and marginalization, as well as significant challenges in the areas of education, housing, access to health and employment, a situation that has become more and more difficult in this time of economic crisis. Furthermore, racial discrimination against the Roma in Spain, negative stereotypes, racial prejudice and hostility against them still prevails, including increase in cases of hate speech on the Internet and in social networks. 29. In the context of the current economic crisis, the Roma have been disproportionately affected by unemployment, also due to their limited professional skills. Racial discrimination in accessing housing has also increased with the crisis, and there are still ghetto-like neighbourhoods with settlements and slums where the Roma live in substandard conditions without access to basic services, including water and electricity. Forced evictions of the Roma living in settlements were also reported, including in Puerta de Hierro in Madrid where families have been particularly affected. Threats of forced evictions were also reported to the Special Rapporteur in Cañada Real in Madrid, a peripheral area where he noted the serious housing challenges faced by the residents, especially the Roma. During his visit, the Special Rapporteur met with the Galician/Portuguese Romani in Barcelona who also face serious housing problems 30. The Special Rapporteur notes that positive results have been achieved for the Roma in primary schools and preschool education. However, he is concerned that Roma progression into secondary education and university education remains a major challenge. There is still a high dropout rate among Roma children in secondary education. The de facto segregation of Roma children in schools, largely underpinned by their families’ difficult social and economic conditions, is also of concern. In this regard, the Special Rapporteur visited the Instituto de Educación Secundaria Valdebernardo (Vicálvaro area) in Madrid, which has a high concentration of Roma and migrant children. He is also deeply concerned that Roma children continue to face racism and racial discrimination in education. 31. While some interlocutors stressed that the Spanish approach to migrant Roma, especially those from Eastern Europe, has been vastly better than in other European countries, some NGOs consider that the policies to receive non-Spanish Roma are not efficient. Non-Spanish Roma are still particularly marginalized and continue to face prejudice, racism and hostility, including those Roma from Bulgaria, Portugal, Romania and other European countries. 8