A/HRC/10/11/Add.3 page 19 successful. No benefits from the scheme accrue to existing Roma settlements and wider communities since grants are generally family based. Given the extent of funding, major settlement rehabilitation could have been foreseen with benefits to whole communities, including purchase of land and provision of numerous low cost housing units. Since most Roma lack regular income families may be unable to repay loans with negative implications for the whole Roma community. Allegations suggest that a high proportion of loans go to well integrated, relatively prosperous Roma. 70. The Ministry of Education and Religion highlights that its aim “is to integrate Gypsy children in the existing educational system (without establishing separate classes), to increase school attendance in primary and secondary education and to decrease school drop-outs, as well as to manage diversity in the classroom”. A range of measures include: reduced administrative requirements for school enrollment; student allowances; educational support and pedagogical monitoring including pre-school courses and support classes; a network of mediators; teacher training; revised and appropriate education materials to assist Roma and teachers; and projects to sensitize local communities. The government acknowledges that some initiatives, including itinerant student cards, have failed. 71. The Ministry of Labour and Social Protection described planned projects, in consultation with Roma, that account for Roma lifestyles, priorities and preferences in employment and recognize that Roma rarely have formal qualifications. Recognizing that Roma favor establishing small enterprises over salaried employment, a new initiative will support 500 Roma entrepreneurs firstly in the Northwest region. Grants of 20,000 Euros will enable small businesses in areas including market trading, mobile vending and transport. Vocational training initiatives will also provide Roma with remuneration for course attendance in areas including IT, cooking, sales, and plumbing. The Ministry acknowledges poor Roma participation in employment schemes and the need for targeted projects. 72. Despite positive initiatives at the national level, problems of local government implementation continue. Some commentators noted that government credit lines that could benefit the Roma exist but are not taken up by municipalities. Reportedly the Roma bought land close to Spata but the Municipality “revolted” and did not allow the settlement, allegedly arguing that there should not be a Roma settlement on the road to the airport. One commentator noted: “Mayors lose votes by helping Roma ... they don’t want to give them the conditions that would enable them to stay.” V. EXCEPTIONAL ISSUES FACING MINORITY WOMEN 73. The Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination Against Women, in its January 2007 report noted measures taken to enhance integration of minority women into Greek society, but “remains concerned that women from ethnic minority groups, in particular Roma and Muslim women, continue to face multiple forms of discrimination with respect to access to education, employment and health care.”19 The situation of women within some Roma and Muslim communities is cause for particular concern and requires dedicated attention. 19 http://daccessdds.un.org/doc/UNDOC/GEN/N07/243/74/PDF/N0724374.pdf?OpenElement.