A/HRC/31/56/Add.1 84. Concerns were raised that Afro-religions are not given equal protection as religions,16 but rather considered as folklore or as a mere cultural manifestation. In this regard, it was noted that Afro-religious titles are not officially recognized on formal documents. Moreover, practitioners also expressed concern that many of their specific religious practices and symbols are appropriated without consent, in a perceived attempt to transform and dilute Afro-religious traditions and culture. In Bahia, certain Afro-religious traditions have been reproduced as cultural artefacts for tourism, without the consent of the communities. 85. The Special Rapporteur is also concerned that community members report widespread impunity surrounding attacks on their person, places of worship, or instances of discrimination, including against children in schools. Lack of responsiveness to complaints filed, or failure to investigate allegations, further contributes to a sense of marginalization and discrimination on the part of the communities. Moreover, the lack of accountability and trust in law-enforcement services has meant that followers of Afro-religions report feeling unsafe in their neighbourhoods and cities. The Special Rapporteur notes the need for police and judicial training in order to better ensure that the rights of Terreiros and their followers are protected. 86. The Special Rapporteur was pleased to learn that an interministerial working group on religious bigotry is being established under the Ministry of Justice. However, to date, no meeting has been convened. The Special Rapporteur notes that it is important that this body addresses the allegations of violence against members of Afro-religions and places of worship, and establishes tools to ensure that the perpetrators of such actions are held to account. However, it is equally important that it addresses the indirect discrimination, including through recognition and ensuring protection adequately and on an equal basis with other religions. 87. Finally, the Special Rapporteur observed that the increasing dominance of certain religious groups and their concentration in power may have a serious negative impact on the secularist nature of the Brazilian State. In this connection, the Rapporteur is concerned by proposed constitutional amendment No. 99 (PEC 99), which would give religious associations the capacity to challenge the constitutionality of laws and to propose constitutional amendments. IX. Conclusions and recommendations A. Conclusions 88. Significant progress has been made on the policy and legislative level to combat the structural racism which continues to dominate Brazilian society. Indeed, given that many of these initiatives have been adopted only in the past decade, the Special Rapporteur commends Brazil on the steps it has taken to face its 500-year legacy of slavery, racism and injustice against minority groups, including Afro-Brazilians. 89. However with regard to Afro-Brazilians, despite more than two decades of targeted policies and actions designed to advance their rights, there has been a failure to address the entrenched discrimination, exclusion, and poverty faced by these communities, particularly those living in favelas, periferias, and Quilombos, as well as 16 18 Recently a Federal Court did consider that African-Brazilian religions should be afforded the protection of freedom of religion, as they cannot be considered a true religion. (Ação Civil Pública, Processo No. 0004747-33.2014.4).