Brazilian cabinet member to speak on eliminating racial discrimination
Matilde Ribeiro will give a public lecture, “Racial Democracy: A Conversation with Brazil’s Minister for Racial Equality” on Thursday, Sept. 13 at 4:30 p.m. in the Amherst Room, 10th floor of the Campus Center.
Ribeiro heads the Special Secretariat for Policies to Promote Racial Equality (SEPPIR), the first cabinet-level post in Brazil aimed at eliminating racial discrimination in that country.
The lecture, Ribeiro’s first at a U.S. academic institution will focus on black women, racism and affirmative action in Brazil, topics to which she has dedicated her life’s work and closely related to the work of SEPPIR. The secretariat, created in 2003 as recognition of the Brazilian Black Movement’s historical struggles, is charged to undertake initiatives against racial inequalities in Brazil.
SEPPIR coordinates policies that promote racial equality of the different ministries and government agencies. It articulates and advances the execution of diverse programs of cooperation with public and private national and international organisms. In addition, SEPPIR oversees Brazil’s compliance with international agreements to respect equality and to combat racial and ethnic discrimination signed by the country. SEPPIR also supports the Ministry of External Relations in regards to associations with African nations.
Ribeiro’s will spend two additional days on campus helping to promote public debate about social equality and social justice.
The talk is sponsored by the Center for Latin American, Caribbean and Latino Studies. A reception will follow.
September 9, 2007.
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