Brasília, August 1, 2003 (Agência Brasil - ABr) - The government created a work group to discuss the policy of quotas for blacks at universities. The group is composed of organs such as the Ministries of Education and Justice, the Presidential Civilian Advisory Board, the Special Secretariat for Human Rights, the Special Secretariat for Women's Rights, and the Secretariat for the Promotion of Racial Equality.

"The social movement has been framing the proposal, and the government, now, with the existence of this group, is impelled to accelerate its position on this policy," affirmed Minister Matilde Ribeiro, of the Secretariat for the Promotion of Racial Equality. According to Ribeiro, since the campaign the President has shown himself to be favorable to the quota policy, and what is lacking, in her opinion, is to reach an agreement on procedures to turn the quotas into an effective policy. (DAS)