Influencing the fight against institutional racism
Did
you know that more than 50% of Brazil's maids are black? Statistical data for
health care, education and income show that black women are at the bottom of
Brazil's social pyramid.
For black people in Brazil generally, racial discrimination has been a major obstacle to accessing equal economic, social and political opportunities. The 2000 census revealed that black Brazilians have far less schooling, far higher unemployment rates and worse jobs than their white counterparts.
As a result, DFID has been working through its Programme to Combat Institutional Racism (PCRI) to put the discussion of racism on the public agenda in Brazil.
- The Guardian:
Brazil's
first black television channel tackles legacy of 300 years of slavery
(Nov 21, 2005)
How does it work?
PCRI
is an innovative partnership initiative involving DFID, the Brazilian Ministry of Health
and local governments in Salvador and Recife - and it has been getting results.
In the state of Pernambuco, for instance, as a result of the programme's awareness raising and advocacy activities, a Department for the Promotion of Racial Equality has been created by the municipal administration of the capital, Recife. This represents a major policy forum for the elimination of racism.
The health of the black population has been addressed as an issue by the Ministry of Health, also supported by PCRI, and represents a major change in the mindset of government, that, for the first time in Brazil, is implementing strategic and specific action to address this segment of the country's population.
At the national level, PCRI has been key in promoting significant changes in public policies. The most important step has been the inclusion of the race issue in the National Health Plan prepared in 2004 and the incorporation of disaggregated race indicators for the evaluation of Millennium Development Goals in Brazil.
- Reducing
poverty by tackling social exclusion (DFID policy paper, Sep 2005)
(157
KB) - Social
transfers and chronic poverty (DFID practice paper, Oct 2005) (218
KB)
Key facts
-
The programme, which covers 2004-2006, includes the following aims: 1. the provision of information and training for policy-makers and managers; 2. a guarantee that public policy making and implementation process contemplates the inclusion of race; 3. Increasing participation by the Black movement in policy forums, to improve relationship between society and government
- PCRI has £760,000 funding from DFID between 2004-2006. The partnership also involves the Special Secretariat for Racial Equality, the National Prosecutor's office and UNDP
- As part of itsregional
strategy for Latin America (298 KB), DFID is keen to facilitate
lesson-learning between Latin America and the rest of the developing world,
giving particular attention to the role Brazil plays as a regional leader in
global policy negotiations and lesson-sharing.
- In Brazil, DFID has also supported the National Audit Office to play an important role in highlighting inequalities in public spending between different regions and different races.
