A/HRC/43/28 G. Human rights situation of Roma communities 65. OHCHR and human rights mechanisms followed the situation of Roma communities around the world. In the context of the European Union Roma Week and the International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination, OHCHR and a range of partners held a conference on truth and reconciliation for Roma at the European Parliament in March. Some 250 representatives from member States, academia, faith groups and grass-roots activists participated in the conference and heard the testimonies of victims of antiGypsyism. 66. In April, OHCHR participated as a panellist in the Conference on Neglected Voices: the Global Roma Diaspora, hosted by the Harvard FXB Center for Health and Human Rights at Harvard University. The panel focused on access to economic and social rights by Roma across the world. In addition, OHCHR organized, at Harvard University, a half-day discussion with participants on the role of OHCHR and human rights mechanisms in the protection of Roma communities, particularly in the Americas. 67. At the country level, OHCHR raised the issue of the lack of accountability for past attacks against Roma settlements in Ukraine. In the majority of attacks against Roma, the police had initiated criminal investigations on charges of hooliganism, disregarding the hate motives of the perpetrators. Due to ongoing advocacy, the police increasingly considered hate motives when classifying attacks based on victims’ identities. However, it was emphasized that those cases must be prosecuted in a timely and efficient manner to achieve accountability. 68. In the Republic of Moldova, OHCHR supported the development of a manual to guide the activities of Roma community mediators and helped build the capacity of the mediators network based on that manual. Roma community mediators were individuals, usually of Roma ethnicity, hired by local public authorities to ensure the social integration of Roma. 69. At the conclusion of his visit to Spain in January, the Special Rapporteur on minority issues referred to policy and institutional developments regarding the promotion and protection of human rights and social inclusion of Roma, including through the implementation of the National Roma Integration Strategy 2012–2020 and initiatives in the area of education. Nevertheless, he highlighted the persistent marginalization, stigmatization and vulnerability of Roma and visible manifestations of anti-Gypsyism, which were deeply entrenched in social and cultural attitudes and institutional practices. 70. In 2019, several concerns about discrimination, hate speech and violence against Roma were raised through communications by special procedure mandate holders addressed to several States. One of the cases was also brought before the European Court of Human Rights and, in January, the High Commissioner submitted an intervener brief to the Court’s proceedings in relation to that case. 71. On International Roma Day, the Special Rapporteur on minority issues asked for immediate action to combat inflammatory racist rhetoric and stressed that States must live up to their human rights commitments and take comprehensive anti-racist measures to respond to the rise of intolerance, hate speech and attacks against Roma and other minorities.48 H. Human rights defenders 72. Human rights defenders working on the rights of minorities are exposed to a high degree of violence from both State and non-State actors, and experience specific challenges linked not only to the work that they do but to who they are and what they represent. As custodian agency for indicator 16.10.1 of the Sustainable Development Goals, OHCHR recorded a high number of human rights defenders and journalists killed during the year 48 12 See www.ohchr.org/EN/NewsEvents/Pages/DisplayNews.aspx?NewsID=24458&LangID=E.