A/HRC/31/56/Add.1 other traditional communities. The statistical data reveals the disproportionate poverty and poor social and economic conditions experienced by many AfroBrazilians. In key areas such as education, employment, health care and housing, Afro-Brazilians remain at the bottom of the socioeconomic ladder. 90. Racism and structural discrimination have a significant impact on the lives and opportunities available to Afro-Brazilians. They are a cause of marginalization and poverty and are directly linked to vulnerability and violence. While Brazilian society faces extraordinarily high levels of violence, regrettably this violence also has a clear racial dimension. Of further concern is that many deaths are perpetrated by arms of the State, including the military police, often with complete impunity. 91. In this connection, the Special Rapporteur also remains concerned about the increasing criminalization of Afro-Brazilians, as evidenced by their disproportionately high incarceration rates. This has been compounded by the “war on drugs”, which has led to a sharp rise in the incarceration of Afro-Brazilians, and the mainstream media, which present stereotypical images of Afro-Brazilians, often in connection with crime. 92. Significant efforts are also needed to ensure that Quilombo communities are able to have their lands demarcated, in accordance with the constitution. Furthermore, there is an apparent lack of full harmonization of the Government’s priorities for economic development with its commitments to the rights of Quilombo communities as well as other traditional peoples. This problem is manifested by the absence of adequate prior consultation and lack of implementation of the principle of free prior and informed consent in the planning and execution of major development projects such as dams, infrastructure projects, agribusiness crop production and natural resource extraction activities on the lands of these traditional communities. 93. With regard to religious minorities, Brazil remains a diverse society with a high degree of religious tolerance. One exception, however, are the reports of growing numbers of attacks against religious communities of African origin, such as Candomblé and Umbanda. Incidents include the burning of temples, the desecration of Afro-religious symbols, and discrimination against peoples wearing traditional Afroreligious dress, including children in schools. Further efforts are needed to combat this phenomenon, and to ensure that Afro-religions are recognized and respected. 94. The Special Rapporteur also acknowledges the new and important work being done on Roma. While many of these initiatives are nascent, the Government should strengthen and ensure the participation of Roma in the development of laws and policies affecting them in order to best respond to their needs. B. 1. Recommendations Normative and institutional framework for the protection of the human rights of minorities 95. The Special Rapporteur emphasizes that Brazil has been at the forefront with its poverty reduction efforts and targeted anti-discrimination and affirmative action laws and policies, and urges that these should be continued and further strengthened. However, she observes that, at the current political juncture, there are a number of legal and political challenges to important laws and policies that pose a real risk of undermining the progress made in the field of minority rights. The Special Rapporteur urges that all steps be taken to avoid any regression in these areas, in accordance with due process of law. 19