Brasília, 6/30/3 (Agência Brasil - ABr) - Brazil is going to begin a search through the legislation of other countries to identify successful initiatives in the combat against racial inequality. "There is a series of measures which have been used abroad that we can use as a point of departure here in Brazil," says the representative of the UN Deveopment Program (PNUD) in Brazil, Carlos Lopes, which has just announced the release of US$30,000 to be used by the Special Secretariat for the Promotion of Racial Equality (Seppir).

The funds will be used to develop an action plan for the secretariat at the institutional level: communication with the media and the public, legal aspects of the problem and setting priorities.

According to the head of the secretariat, minister Matilde Ribeiro, in Brazil there is institutional racism which creates profound socio-racial inequalities that affect Afro-Brazilians and Indians. Lopes says the PNUD is working on initiatives to promote social and racial inclusion, such as statistical research at the Applied Economics Research Institute (Ipea) and the Palmares Foundation for defense of Afro-Brazilians.

The PNUD representative, who took office at the beginning of this month, is from Guine-Bissau and is experienced in strategic development and planning. He is also the author of books on the subject and has taught in universities in Portugal, Switzerland, Argentina, Mexico and Brazil. Lopes has founded NGOs and has worked at the UN since 1988 where he has been a Unesco consultant and a member of the Economic Commission for Africa. (AB)