A/HRC/17/40 I. Introduction 1. The present report is prepared pursuant to Human Rights Council resolution 7/34, as updated in Council resolution 16/33. 2. At the 2001 World Conference against Racism, Racial Discrimination, Xenophobia and Related Intolerance, States adopted a victim-oriented approach and declared that “the victims of racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance are individuals or groups of individuals who are or have been negatively affected by, subjected to, or targets of these scourges”, 1 recognizing further that “racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance occur on the grounds of race, colour, descent or national or ethnic origin and that victims can suffer multiple or aggravated forms of discrimination based on other related grounds such as sex, language, religion, political or other opinion, social origin, property, birth or other status”.2 Similarly, at the Durban Review Conference, States acknowledged “that all victims of racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance should receive the same necessary attention and protection and accordingly appropriate treatment”.3 3. The Special Rapporteur on contemporary forms of racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance has previously emphasized the need to adopt a victimoriented approach, to ensure that actions undertaken truly respond to the concrete needs of those experiencing racism and discrimination. In line with the Durban documents, the Special Rapporteur has highlighted that all victims should receive the same attention and protection and that it is essential to avoid establishing any hierarchy among the different manifestations of discrimination, even if they may vary in nature and degree depending on the historical, geographical and cultural context. All forms of racism and discrimination should be addressed with the same emphasis and determination. The Special Rapporteur is further convinced of the need to have a comprehensive approach which encompasses all manifestations of racism and discrimination. It is with this background in mind that he focuses in the present report on racial discrimination and racism against Roma, and discrimination based on work and descent. 4. Racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance against Roma is addressed in chapter II, and discrimination based on work and descent in chapter III. Chapter IV contains a summary of the activities of the Special Rapporteur undertaken since June 2010. Finally, conclusions and recommendations are presented in chapter V. II. Racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance against Roma 5. The human rights situation of Roma4 remains a pressing issue widely addressed by different actors. Since the establishment of the mandate on contemporary forms of racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance, all three mandate holders have 1 2 3 4 Durban Declaration, para. 1. Ibid., para. 2. Outcome document of the Durban Review Conference, para. 17. The term Roma, without going into the different and at times controversial definitional discussions, refers to such persons who self-define themselves as such. Policies and practices referred to in this report covering such persons may also have an impact on other marginalized minorities groups. 3