A/HRC/31/56/Add.1
favoured large-scale development projects, including extractive industries, agribusiness and
infrastructure projects.
C.
Social services including education
74.
Quilombos and traditional communities are also often lacking access to basic
services, such as education, access to health services, sanitation and basic infrastructure,
including roads, transport and communication services. The Special Rapporteur learned
that, in some cases, a Quilombo child will need to walk 5-6 kilometres just to reach the bus
stop to travel to school each day, in order then to travel one hour to school, where she or he
will be unable to perform well because of constant fatigue. In another Quilombo visited,
students are only provided two hours of class per day, even for pupils up to 15 years of age
Few Quilombos have local schools with teachers from their communities. In view of this,
the Special Rapporteur notes that, even if affirmative action programmes exist, if AfroBrazilians, including Quilombolas, are unable to better access quality basic education, these
programmes will remain powerless to address inequalities.
VII. Roma
75.
Roma have been present in Brazil since colonization of the territory, with the first
record dating back to 1574 and have continued to migrate to Brazil for diverse reasons;
sometimes fleeing persecution in Europe, sometimes seeking new horizons.
76.
Three main Roma ethnic groups reside in the country: Kalon, Roma and Sinti, with
various subgroups. Although precise numbers are still not available, the Government
estimates that there may be upwards of 500,000 Brazilian Roma, 14 and a recent mapping
project indicates that Roma may be present in as many as 337 municipalities, in more than
21 states, 196 of which already participating in social programmes. The states with the
largest number of recognized Cigano camps include Minas Gerais (58), Bahia (53) and
Goiás (38). The Special Rapporteur learned that, in reality, there are nowadays very few
Roma communities which travel.
77.
Despite the lack of data, Roma continue to be a disadvantaged, socially excluded,
and largely invisible minority in Brazil. They face particular challenges with regards to
accessing education, employment, health, housing and social security. Illiteracy is high, and
access to public health services, education, social security, employment and housing can
also be challenging, often hindered by stigmatization, institutional racism and
discrimination. Early marriage remains prevalent for girls, and Roma also experience
difficulties regarding the protection and preservation of their traditions and cultural
heritage.
78.
Stereotypes such as the “lazy gypsy” remain widespread, and Roma are often
characterized as vagabonds and perpetrators of kidnapping, stealing, cheating, sorcery and
witchcraft. Roma complained that these stereotypes are perpetuated by the mainstream
media, including a recent soap opera in which Roma were negatively portrayed as stealing
gold from dead bodies and looting graveyards. In this connection, Roma consulted reported
experiencing direct discrimination on account of their ethnicity, including not being
welcomed in hotels, or on public transport, or people fearing to approach, talk to or
befriend them.
14
16
See www.seppir.gov.br/comunidades-tradicionais/relatorio-executivo-brasil-cigano-1.