BRAZILIAN PRESIDENT APPROVES RACIAL EQUALITY STATUTE

President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva of Brazil signed the bill establishing the Racial Equality Statute on 20th July, 2010 without vetoing a single clause in the bill. The document provided definitions for racial discrimination, racial inequality and the black population.

It stated that racial discrimination "is any distinction, exclusion, restriction or preference based on race, ancestry or national origin".

Racial inequality is defined as "all situations of unjustified differentiation of access and opportunity based on race, ancestry or national origin".

The black population is explained as "a set of people who define themselves as black or mulatto".

In terms of education, the Statute mandates that general African history as well as Brazilian black history be taught in elementary and middle schools, both public and private. As for religion, the Statute reiterates the free exercise of religious cults of African origin and allows religious support for specific cult followers in public hospitals.

The Brazilian government will now establish permanent offices specialized in racial inequality to monitor the implementation of the measures listed in the Statute. The document further stipulates that the Brazilian government must take steps to curb police violence against blacks.