In order to become acquainted with the Brazilian government’s activities to combat racial discrimination, the special United Nations (UN) rapporteur on Contemporary Forms of Racism, Discrimination, Xenophobia, and Intolerance, Doudou Diène, met Tuesday, October 18, with the Minister of the Special Secretariat for Policies to Promote Racial Equality, Matilde Ribeiro.
The rapporteur said he wished to visit Brazil to observe the progress achieved in the area of combating racism, the solutions that have been found, and the problems that still need to be resolved.
Among the major projects presented by the Minister to the UN rapporteur were the affirmative actions to prevent racism in the country and programs in the areas of work and education, especially Law 10639/03, which makes the teaching of black history and culture mandatory in the schools.
Diène has to submit an annual report on racism around the world to the UN Human Rights Commission, as well as specific reports on the countries he visits. He affirmed that his visit has two motives: Brazil’s multi-ethnic composition and the historical racism the country presents.
ABr