A/HRC/31/CRP.2 also noted the heightened discrimination experienced by Roma women, who are often easily identifiable due to their traditional dress. 29. Argentinian participants expressed immense pride in their culture, ethnicity and language, but regretted the widespread lack of awareness of Roma as a specific Argentinian minority. They expressed a desire for their cultural identity and specificities to be recognized, respected and valued as part of the cultural heritage of Argentina. In this regard, participants noted the lack of funding and support for Roma communities to be able to adequately research and publish information about their communities in order to better inform the Argentinian public. They complained that they are often the subject of anthropological studies by outsiders, but not afforded opportunities to design and author such studies themselves 30. Participants from Brazil noted the widespread nature of the negative stereotypes about Roma and their ways of life. These are often perpetuated by the media, through the reproduction of images and depictions of the “dirty, cheating, immoral gypsy”. These stereotypes also contribute to the criminalization of Roma communities, including through policing policies and racial profiling. This involves preventing Roma who travel from establishing temporary camps for their caravans, and discrimination with regard to access to public spaces. Participants further reported that they experience a lack of responsiveness to their needs by the law enforcement authorities when Roma individuals or communities are the victims of crime. 31. Participants from Canada also raised concerns about a recent rise in discriminatory or even racist discourse about Roma. For example, participants told how there had been a spate of articles published recently associating Canadian Roma with criminality, as exemplified by a campaign launched by the Quebec Police to warn the public to be careful of Roma. This was clear discrimination and racial profiling. Fortunately, the Quebec Human Rights Commission made an official complaint and the campaign was withdrawn. There were also allegations of increasing racial profiling, discrimination and even attacks on Roma by the police.14 32. Chilean participants emphasized that they are given no opportunities to freely express their Roma identity, and must identify simply as Chilean. They noted that the Government has so far failed to recognize Roma as a minority ethnic group, and that no official policies or programmes exist that specifically apply to them. They also expressed frustration at the lack of opportunities to participate in any meaningful and constructive dialogue with the authorities. 33. Chilean participants further noted that this reluctance to recognize Roma as a minority appears to be linked to widespread prejudice on the part of the wider public, which perceives them as merely a “deviant” subculture that should be “normalized”. Participants gave examples of the widespread discrimination in society, such as not being allowed to use public transport. 34. Participants emphasized their feeling that there is little understanding of Roma history in Chile, such as the persecution by the Nazi regime and the extreme suffering experienced during the Holocaust, which remains very vivid in the memory of many families. Rather, any public discourse about Roma, where it exists, focuses on negative stereotypes and tends to perpetuate discrimination. 14 8 See A/HRC/29/24. Para. 45 provides a positive example of a training and capacity building project in Ontario run by the police and members of the Roma community, aimed at reducing discriminatory policing behaviours against Roma.