U.S. and Brazil Discuss Ways to Promote Ethnic and Racial Equality in both Countries
Brasília, 2009 - Representatives of the United States and Brazilian governments, civil society, and business met in the city of Salvador (Bahia State) from October 22nd to 23rd for the third meeting of the Steering Group of the U.S.-Brazil Joint Action Plan to Eliminate Ethnic and Racial Discrimination and Promote Equality. The delegations were led by Minister Edson Santos, head of the Special Secretariat for the Promotion of Racial Equality (SEPPIR) and U.S. Assistant Secretary of State for Western Hemisphere Affairs, Thomas Shannon.
“As we look forward, I want to underscore that we’re very proud to be signatories with Brazil of the Joint Action Plan to Eliminate Racial Discrimination. This agreement reflects the maturity and the breadth of our bilateral relationship,” said Shannon.
During the two-day meeting, representatives of the two countries’ governments, members of civil society, and private sector discussed areas for cooperation and joint action to foster racial equality based on the following themes: Education, Culture, Health, Justice, Labor, and Housing.
The meetings were also attended by the Ambassador Vera Lucia Barrouin Machado, Undersecretary General for Policy at Brazil’s Foreign Affairs Ministry; U.S. Embassy Chargé d'Affaires, Lisa Kubiske, and the Bahia State Government’s Secretary for the Promotion of Equality, Luiza Bairros, representing the Governor of Bahia, Jaques Wagner.
“The historical process of combating racial discrimination has taken many forms in Brazil and the United States. However, even considering these differences, our countries have much to learn from each other in combating inequality,” said Minister Edson Santos.
