A/66/313 29. Inequalities in all aspects of daily life of people of African descent demand continued urgent attention. Subtle, but ever present, structural discrimination or institutionalized racism is part of their everyday existence. They are regrettably not accepted as part of the culture within public institutions or private enterprises, nor within the wider society. It is crucial to recognize that racism and racial discrimination against people of African descent remain embedded in societies. 30. In that context, the Special Rapporteur also emphasized the situation of women and girls of African descent who often suffer multiple forms of discrimination on the basis of their descent and gender. Women and girls of African descent are regularly more marginalized and discriminated in comparison to men in key areas such as education, public and political life, health, and access to labour markets, and they remain particularly vulnerable to exploitation, trafficking, racial abuse and violence. 31. In the Special Rapporteur’s view, the participation of people of African descent in political, economic, social and cultural aspects of society, as well as in the advancement and economic development of their countries, is indispensable for an inclusive society. A particular reference was made in that regard by the Special Rapporteur to paragraph 32 of the Durban Declaration, 6 which affirms the importance and necessity of ensuring the full integration of people of African descent into social, economic and political life with a view to facilitating their full participation at all levels in the decision-making process. The invaluable contributions to the economic, social, cultural, civil and political life of society that have been made by people of African descent were also emphasized. 32. Racial discrimination against people of African descent is a major obstacle to achieving development. The Special Rapporteur therefore recalled that meaningful participation and empowerment, equality and non-discrimination were central features of a human rights-based approach to development and that progress in the achievement of the Millennium Development Goals should be encouraged. 2. Roma 33. In his annual report submitted to the Human Rights Council at its seventeenth session, the Special Rapporteur analysed the issue of racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance against Roma. He noted that despite the wide range of measures taken by States at the regional and national levels to eliminate racism and racial discrimination against Roma, more remained to be done in the light of their current situation. Indeed, important challenges remained that revealed grave and deep-rooted problems of racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance against Roma. In that regard, the Special Rapporteur stressed that Roma were particularly exposed to racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and intolerance when it came to the enjoyment of their rights to education, health, employment and housing. The widespread discrimination they faced fed their marginalization and social exclusion in a vicious manner. The Special Rapporteur noted with concern the segregation of Roma children in schools, the high rate of unemployment of Roma, their forced evictions and growing segregation in the area of housing, and the discriminatory practices they experienced while accessing health care and services. __________________ 6 10 See A/CONF.189/12 and Corr.1, chap. I. 11-45818