|
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.
|