A/HRC/62/55/Add.1 experiences of racial and intersectional forms of discrimination. She highlights the importance of prioritizing anti-racial discrimination measures within public spending. B. 1. Concerns impacting specific groups Roma and Sinti communities 22. The Special Rapporteur received reports that racial and ethnic discrimination against Roma and Sinti persons remains a persistent and systemic challenge. This includes racism against Roma and Sinti persons from Austria, despite their recognition as a national minority, as well as Roma migrants. Manifestations of such discrimination are evident across employment, education, health and housing, contributing to the continued social and economic marginalization of these persons. Women, older persons, persons with disabilities and migrants from Roma and Sinti communities often experience intersectional discrimination resulting in deep and pervasive marginalization. 23. The Special Rapporteur heard concerning reports about the segregation of Roma children into special schools or separate classes within mainstream schools. She received reports about a lack of adequate resources for measures to ensure integration within mainstream schools, such as Roma teachers and Roma mediators with relevant language skills. Even more concerningly, the Special Rapporteur was told about the reported mistreatment of Roma children within educational institutions. For example, she was deeply concerned to hear about a case in Salzburg in which Ukrainian Roma children were accused of stealing a phone, without any objective basis. The owner had left the phone at home but mistakenly thought it had been stolen. Thirty-two children aged between 6 and 12 were reportedly kept in a classroom for approximately an hour and a half by the principal and school assistants. Some of the children were instructed to remove their outer clothing and their pockets were checked. The children were instructed to leave their school bags at school, as the police would be conducting a search the following day. The parents were not informed about the accusation nor about the unauthorized inspection of the children. The Special Rapporteur recognizes that the federal Department of Education has a zero-tolerance policy regarding discriminatory behaviour and welcomes the fact that a circular providing clear guidelines for addressing discrimination and promoting a respectful school climate has been disseminated to schools. She nevertheless remains concerned that this reported case appears to exemplify deep-seated prejudice against Roma and Sinti persons and tendencies among some individuals to scapegoat those belonging to such communities, even young children. 24. The Special Rapporteur welcomes the fact that the Government has taken steps to implement the European Union Framework for Roma Integration. She commends Austria on the National Strategy for the Inclusion of Roma and the efforts made to ensure consultation with civil society organizations and affected persons in its development. She also welcomes the fact that federal and Länder equality bodies in Austria assist in cases of discrimination against Roma and Sinti persons. However, the continued marginalization, exclusion and harassment of Roma and Sinti persons, including children, clearly demonstrate that efforts must be intensified to combat deep-seated prejudices and ensure comprehensive enforcement of anti-discrimination legislation. Building trust to collect the necessary data to allow for a comprehensive assessment of the situation of Roma and Sinti communities, and for the monitoring of the implementation of the national strategy, would be an important step. More comprehensive public awareness-raising campaigns to tackle anti-Roma sentiments within the population and to raise awareness of the national strategy would also be helpful. Additionally, it is vital that Austria takes an intersectional approach to addressing anti-Roma racism to effectively address the overlapping and compounding vulnerabilities experienced by women, older persons, persons with disabilities and/or migrants from Roma and Sinti communities. 2. Antisemitism 25. The Special Rapporteur is deeply concerned about the rising levels of antisemitism in Austria, which reflect the unacceptable rise in antisemitism seen globally since 7 October 2023. Such trends are particularly concerning given that levels of antisemitism are rising 7