A/HRC/29/24 official report on the situation of Roma in the city, using denigrating language and likening Roma to criminals.25 27. The Special Rapporteur is also concerned about discriminatory stereotypes and hate speech against Roma women, including depictions of them as particularly fertile or promiscuous, which expose them to different forms of gender-based violence, including forced sterilization.26 To avoid exposing Roma women to abuse, sterilization procedures must be based on clear legal provisions which ensure full, free and informed consent. C. Pillar 3: equality and non-discrimination 28. The substandard living conditions of Roma in Europe are well-documented.27 Between 70 and 90 per cent of Roma report living in conditions of severe material deprivation. Exclusion from formal schooling remains widespread throughout Europe. Even in those countries where a majority of Roma children complete primary school, most do not obtain either a vocational certificate or a secondary qualification.28 In South-Eastern Europe, the participation of Roma in education beyond primary school is dramatically lower than that of the majority population, with only 18 per cent of Roma attending secondary school compared to 75 per cent of the majority community, and less than 1 per cent of Roma enrolled in university. 29 Regarding health, European Roma are disproportionately unvaccinated, have poorer than average nutrition and experience higher rates of infant mortality and tuberculosis. Life expectancy among European Roma communities is reportedly significantly lower than among non-Roma communities.30 Similar marginalization exists with regard to employment. In 12 surveyed European Union countries, fewer than one out of three Roma were reported to be in paid employment. 31 The Special Rapporteur welcomes the commitment of the European Commission to start infringement proceedings in cases in which European Union member States are not meeting their commitments under the Racial Equality Directive, and emphasizes that the Commission should more actively pursue that in order to secure better outcomes for European Union Roma. 29. Outside Europe, research indicates that Roma face similar challenges. Living conditions in the Roma villages in central and southern Iraq are reportedly among the most deplorable in the country. Many Roma live in windowless mud houses without electricity, clean water, health care or adequate food, and are cut off from social security services. In Brazil, many Roma settlements reportedly have no electricity and lack access to safe drinking water and sanitation, despite the fact that some families have been living there for over 20 years. 30. Access to education continues to be a major obstacle for all Roma. The Government of Argentina has recognized the high levels of illiteracy and school dropout of Roma children.32 In Brazil, official data on literacy and/or school attendance of Roma children are 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 See www.errc.org/cms/upload/file/ec-progress-report-turkey-2014.pdf, p. 6. See A/HRC/24/21, p. 17, and www.who.int/reproductivehealth/publications/gender_rights/eliminating-forced-sterilization/en/, pp. 4–5. See http://fra.europa.eu/en/publication/2011/housing-conditions-roma-and-travellers-european-unioncomparative-report. See http://fra.europa.eu/en/publication/2012/situation-roma-11-eu-member-states-survey-results-glance. See www.unicef.org/ceecis/UNICEF_ROE_Roma_Position_Paper_Web.pdf, p. 16. See http://ec.europa.eu/health/social_determinants/docs/2014_roma_health_report_en.pdf. See http://fra.europa.eu/en/publication/2012/situation-roma-11-eu-member-states-survey-results-glance. Responses from Argentina and the national human rights institution of Argentina to the questionnaire. 9