A/HRC/22/27 64. The Independent Expert conducted her first country visit to Bosnia and Herzegovina from 17 to 25 September to examine the situation of national minorities, including Roma and those “constituent peoples” (Bosnian Croats and Bosnian Serbs) who, following the conflicts between 1992 and 1995, found themselves to be de facto minorities in the regions and localities in which they live. On 31 October, she joined with the Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in Myanmar, Tomás Ojea Quintana, and the Special Rapporteur on the human rights of internally displaced persons, Chaloka Beyani, to express deep concern over continuing inter-communal violence in Rakhine State, Myanmar, that had led to loss of life, destruction of homes and mass displacement, and called on the Government to urgently address the underlying causes of the tension and conflict between the Buddhists and Muslim communities in the region. 65. After her mission to Israel and the Occupied Palestinian Territory (30 January – 12 February), the Special Rapporteur on adequate housing as a component of the right to an adequate standard of living, and on the right to non-discrimination in this context, Raquel Rolnik, stated that “the Israeli authorities have had an impressive record of providing adequate housing for waves of Jewish immigrants and refugees, but today these policies have failed to respond to the needs of minorities and the socially disadvantaged”. Palestinian minorities living inside Israel and Palestinians living under military occupation were affected by ongoing threats against their right to housing. 66. The Special Rapporteur on freedom of religion or belief, in his report to the Human Rights Council, expressed concern about members of minority groups who were subjected to pressure by State and non-State actors to convert or reconvert to mainstream religions or beliefs (A/67/303, para. 47). The concept of an official “State religion” has adverse effects on religious minorities, as missionary activities on behalf of the mainstream religion are encouraged while others are prohibited or restricted, thus violating the principle of nondiscrimination. 67. The Special Rapporteur on the implications for human rights of the environmentally sound management and disposal of hazardous substances and waste, Calin Georgescu, warned on March 30 that the communities affected by nuclear testing over 60 years ago in the Marshall Islands had “yet to find durable solutions to the dislocation to their indigenous ways of life”. Mr. Georgescu, who visited the country between 26 and 30 March, urged the country’s Government, as well as the United States of America and the international community, to find effective redress for the affected people from Bikini, Enewetak, Rongelap and Utrik. 68. The Special Rapporteur in the field of cultural rights, Farida Shaheed, conducted her first mission to the Russian Federation from 15 to 26 April. The recognition by the Russian Federation of its multi-ethnic and multi-confessional character is reflected in important constitutional provisions, including in the area of education and language. However, the Special Rapporteur was concerned at the uneven application of those provisions and that many minorities lacked support from the federal and regional authorities in that regard. 69. The Special Rapporteur on the right to food, Olivier De Schutter, warned that “food systems of emerging countries are at a major crossroads. Millions of people have been lifted out of poverty, yet whole communities have been left behind”. His statement was made after he presented his reports on China, Mexico and South Africa (A/HRC/19/59/Add.1, Add.2 and Add.3, respectively) to the Human Rights Council at its nineteenth session. 70. On 13 April, the Special Rapporteur on the right to education, Kishore Singh, hailed the decision by the Indian Supreme Court to uphold the constitutional validity of the provisions in the 2009 Right of Children to Free and Compulsory Education Act. The Act mandates that 25 per cent of places in private and public schools be reserved for socially 15