“The policy of promoting racial equality should not be just a part of the structure of the Special Secretariat for Policies to Promote Racial Equality (Seppir), but of all Ministries and areas of the government that are relevant to the country’s social, economic, and political life,” Minister Matilde Ribeiro, of the Seppir, said today.
She participated in the roundtable on “National Identity, Policy, and Legislation to Overcome Racism,” on the second day of the 1st National Conference to Promote Racial Equality, in Brasília.
Ribeiro remarked that racism is a part of interpersonal relations and is mainly expressed through the lack of opportunities.
“The poor population, the majority of which is black and indigenous, lives in neighborhoods with less infrastructure and has more difficulty gaining access to goods and services. It is precisely for this reason that I insist that the policy has to do with all areas of government.”
Participation by organized civil society was also mentioned by the Minister as an essential instrument for promoting a dialogue with the government and helping understand the real needs of the black, indigenous, gypsy, Palestinian, and Jewish populations, among those represented at the conference.
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