A/HRC/18/44 against Roma by groups of skinheads, and about racist slogans against Roma, written on walls by a neo-Nazi group (named Nazi Swastika). Unfortunately, the most recent reports received by the Special Rapporteur contain similar information. 21. For instance, it was reported that, in some countries, extremist political parties have been at the forefront of political action against Roma camps. In a number of cases, it was also reported that Roma were often negatively portrayed and stigmatized especially, but not exclusively, by extremist nationalist groups. According to the information received, some incidents involving members of the Roma community occurred in recent years. For instance, cases of attacks by skinheads against groups of Roma people leading to injuries were reported. Similarly, some stakeholders reported that the police found the leaflets of a far-right group at the homes of some of the suspects in a case where a youth threw Molotov cocktails into a house inhabited by Roma. 22. The Special Rapporteur is also concerned about the establishment and development of “vigilante” groups or “self-defence guards” with extremist ideologies, including sometimes neo-Nazi ideology, who have attacked individuals, including Roma, sometimes without being prosecuted or sentenced. Reports were received about an increase in the creation and development of paramilitary groups, marching in some cases in the black uniform of the pre-Second World War fascist past, in underdeveloped settlements inhabited by Roma, on the pretence of preventing crime. In some cases, it was reported that the police did not prevent such demonstrations. The information received indicates that these groups share certain characteristics, such as militant posturing in uniforms, with anti-Roma and authoritarian ideology, and promising public security and offering effective protection for citizens in response to the failure of law enforcement agents, including the police, to do so. Some are also openly anti-Semite. It was also reported that, in some cases, these organizations were supported and sponsored by extremist political parties, which gain political benefit from the media coverage of events involving vigilante groups. Furthermore, their presence in small communities helps the party behind them to maintain regular contact with the local population and therefore to increase their influence, including in rural areas. 23. The Special Rapporteur also received reports about incidents against migrants and foreigners committed by individuals closely linked to far-right nationalist parties, including attacks on houses where immigrants live, arson attacks on houses and places of worship, cases of beatings and stabbings of migrants and asylum-seekers in the street, and racist demonstrations in areas frequented by undocumented migrants and asylum-seekers that have led to them being injured. It was also reported that, in some cases, vigilante groups comprising members of extremist political parties, together with local residents, have been patrolling certain areas and intimidating, threatening and attacking migrants, thus creating “migrant-free zones”. Racist demonstrations organized by “extreme right elements” leaving migrants injured were also reported. 24. The Special Rapporteur urges States to take the measures necessary to ensure that perpetrators of racially motivated acts are held responsible and brought to justice. States should also pay due attention to the victims of such crimes, especially those belonging to vulnerable groups, by providing them with effective means to make complaints and to have access to effective remedies. In this regard, the Special Rapporteur is concerned that the underreporting of racist crimes by victims continues to be a problem, including in the case of irregular migrants and asylum-seekers. This lack of reporting distorts statistics and data, and may as a result create the impression that racist crimes by extremist political parties, movements and groups do not exist or are less prevalent than they actually are. The information received indicates that victims do not report incidents for several reasons, including fear of the police, a lack of trust in the criminal justice system and in public institutions in general, fear of reprisals, and sometimes language barriers and ignorance of the victims of their rights. States should ensure that victims are made aware of their rights and therefore have access to justice, including reparation. Further measures to better 7