sentences:  Early on, due to their socio-cultural difference and nomadic style of live, the Ciganos were the object of fierce discrimination and persecution.The number of "Ciganos" in Portugal is difficult to estimate, since there are no official statistics about race or ethnic categories.According to data from Council of Europe's European Commission against Racism and Intolerance there are about 40,000 to 50,000 spread all over the country.