A/HRC/29/24 cases of the expulsion of Roma from Denmark, Germany, Italy and Sweden were also reported at that time.38 34. Roma women and girls may also be vulnerable to multiple, intersecting forms of discrimination and to violence, including gender-based violence and trafficking. Roma women are also allegedly stereotyped as promiscuous, which exposes them to a heightened risk of exploitation and sexual and gender-based violence. 35. Internally displaced persons (IDPs) of Roma origin experience specific challenges in accessing basic rights, including housing, land and property, water and sanitation, health services, employment, education and participation in public and political life. During the ongoing conflict in Ukraine, Roma IDPs have been increasingly marginalized and have limited access to even the most basic services. 39 The Special Rapporteur on the human rights of internally displaced persons reported in 2014 that Roma in the Balkans were among the region’s most vulnerable IDPs.40 36. Statelessness also disproportionately affects Roma, who despite being born in or having long-standing ties to a country, speaking the local language and having no other country of citizenship, often have no access to nationality.41 Lack of documentation also hampers not only Roma political participation, but also access to services, thereby reinforcing the vicious circle of poverty and marginalization. An NGO report to the Committee on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights on Ukraine indicated that up to 40 per cent of Roma in the Odessa region lack at least one of the documents necessary to access a range of services.42 In the Russian Federation, lack of personal documentation prevents Roma from accessing employment, social allowances and health care, and from voting or accessing education in some schools due to discriminatory practices of school authorities. 43 In 2004, the Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination expressed concern about allegations concerning discrimination faced by Roma with regard to birth registration and access to schools for their children in Brazil.44 D. Pillar 4: the right to effective participation 37. The effective and meaningful participation of Roma in the political arena is a pivotal element in breaking the vicious cycle of stigma, discrimination and marginalization. The right to effective participation is affirmed in article 25 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights,45 and reiterated in the Declaration (arts. 2, 4 (5) and 5 (1)). The commentary to the Declaration further establishes that the right to participate in all aspects of the life of the larger national society is essential, both in order for persons belonging to minorities to promote their interests and values and to create an integrated but pluralist society based on tolerance and dialogue (E/CN.4/Sub.2/AC.5/2005/2, para. 35). 38. Despite those clearly defined international standards, Roma remain underrepresented or not represented in the public administrations, institutions and political parties of many 38 39 40 41 42 43 44 45 See A/HRC/17/40 para. 20. See A/HRC/28/64/Add.1 and www.ohchr.org/Documents/Countries/UA/9thOHCHRreportUkraine.pdf. See A/HRC/26/33/Add.2, para. 20. See A/HRC/23/46/Add.3. See www.errc.org/cms/upload/file/ukraine-cescr-march-2014.pdf. See CERD/C/RUS/CO/19, p. 9. See CERD/C/64/CO/2, para. 17. See also Human Rights Committee, general comment No. 25 (1996), para. 5. 11