A/HRC/4/9/Add.2 page 12 also serve as members of Parliament. A welcome initiative to start in November 2006 requires that Presidents of minority self-governments be ex officio members at meetings of municipal authorities, allowing them to raise issues directly with the competent authorities. 44. The minority self-government system does provide a useful structure, with electoral legitimacy, which can be a voice for Roma community concerns. Roma can progress within the system of minority self-government from the local to potentially the county and national levels. It also offers a training ground for political participation and an incentive and motivation towards wider Roma political activity into mainstream political structures. In 2006, at the national level, the highest number of candidates for minority self-governments were fielded by two Roma minority organizations. Government amendments to the 1993 Act on National and Ethnic Minorities seek to eliminate an anomaly in the original legislation that allowed non-minorities to stand for elected positions and to exercise a franchise in elections for minority self-governments. However, a registration process in order to vote and to stand for election has been criticized on the grounds that Roma are reluctant to identify themselves as such for official purposes because of memories of historical persecution, including genocide in Europe. Additionally, many Roma consider themselves poorly served by current political mechanisms and see little advantage in cooperation. By the 15 July 2006 registration deadline, 106,341 Roma voters had registered as such. C. Discrimination 45. The Independent Expert considers that widespread discrimination and anti-Roma prejudice exist within Hungarian society, resulting in exclusion in all walks of life and significant political, social and economic marginalization. She expressed particular concern regarding the effects of discrimination in the fields of education, employment and housing, addressed separately in the present report. 46. Despite increasing growth and opportunity generally in Hungary, the situation of the Roma is not improving, and may be worsening due to a widening gap between mainstream society and the Roma. In the period of transition from communist rule, Roma suffered disproportionately from the effects of reform. Discrimination and prejudice significantly increased as Roma faced long-term unemployment, poor service provision and access to education, and consequent negative stereotyping by wider society. The long-term consequences of discrimination and exclusion have resulted in a belief expressed by many Roma, that their situation is unlikely to improve. 47. Allegations of widespread discrimination within the health-care system and social services are cause for concern. Discriminatory practices, including reports of segregated maternity wards for Roma women in some hospitals, and a high incidence of discriminatory treatment by medical staff have been cited as influencing Roma not to seek medical assistance in hospitals. Roma women also expressed serious concern at the disproportionate removal of Roma children into institutions on arbitrary grounds or on the basis of poverty. Municipal authorities can take a child without a court decision, and Roma women stated that the only way to gain redress or appeal the decision with the local authority was via judicial remedy about which many Roma are uninformed.