A/HRC/29/24 manifestations of anti-Gypsyism not only promote a climate of distrust, dissuading Roma from reporting violent crimes against them to authorities, but also create an atmosphere of impunity and may encourage further acts of violence against Roma. B. Pillar 2: protection and promotion of Roma identity 23. The protection and promotion of Roma identity means that States have the obligation not only to protect Roma from forced assimilation, 22 but must adopt positive measures that promote the distinctive characteristics of Roma culture, including language, history and tradition. That should be achieved through financial and technical assistance to preserve the Romani language, art, poetry, dance, music and traditions, including their promotion through the media. Roma history and the cultural contribution of Roma must also be recognized and taught in school curricula. In that regard, Roma must be given opportunities for self-interpretation and self-representation. 24. Nevertheless, across the regions, negative stereotypes of Roma persist, describing them as criminal, unworthy, unclean or aggressive. The Special Rapporteur has explained how hate speech, including negative stereotyping of Roma, is widespread in the media, including social media, and in public political discourse, and how Roma rarely have access to media or other means necessary to challenge those perceptions.23 Hate speech is not only a denigration of Roma identity, but impacts negatively on Roma community members’ sense of inclusion in the national psyche. The Special Rapporteur therefore understands a key aspect of pillar 2 to include addressing hate speech through systematic intervention and condemnation. 25. In the context of her global study, she also wishes to draw attention to incidents of negative stereotyping of Roma outside Europe. For example, in Argentina, a now discontinued television series, Soy Gitano, focused on so-called “Gypsy crime”. Although the Roma community in Argentina denounced the soap opera to the National Institute to Combat Discrimination, Xenophobia and Racism, the complaint was dismissed on the grounds that the series was fictional. A similar complaint was filed before the Canadian Broadcast Standards Council following a show which contained strong discriminatory statements towards Roma refugees in Canada. As a result of the complaint, the network removed the video from their web page and issued an apology. The misrepresentation of Roma in the media in Turkey was exemplified by a popular television series, Cennet Mahallesi, which presented highly stereotypical depictions of Roma. In the United States of America, a reality television programme entitled My Big Fat American Gypsy Wedding, a spin-off of a show of the same name in the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, continues to be broadcast today. Both versions have been criticized for their stereotypical approach and for misrepresenting Roma culture. 26. Beyond misrepresentation in the media, there are also State-sanctioned communications vilifying Roma. In August 2011, a Russian newspaper published an article called “Be careful!”, signed by an employee of the Ministry of the Interior, advising readers to be extremely vigilant when dealing with Roma, not to enter into contact with them in order to avoid psychological pressure on their part and never to invite them home. The article also recommended that readers should immediately contact the police if they spotted a suspicious Gypsy.24 In 2013, the Governor’s Office in Bursa, Turkey, issued an 22 23 24 8 See E/CN.4/Sub.2/AC.5/2005/2, para. 21. See A/HRC/28/64. See http://adcmemorial.org/wp-content/uploads/SOVA_ADCMIPHR_FIDH_RussianFederation_CERD82.pdf, p. 33.