São Paulo - A national campaign to legalize "quilombo" lands was inaugurated yesterday (18) in São Paulo by the National Coordination Board of Rural Black Quilombo Communities, the Center on Housing Rights and Evictions (COHRE, headquartered in Geneva), and the Maranhão Association of Rural Black Quilombo Communities (Aconeruq - MA).

"Quilombos" are rural ethnic communities founded by blacks originally transported from Africa as slaves, from the 17th century on, and their descendants, and who either fled from slavery, acquired their freedom, or were the beneficiaries of the Emancipation. These communities, like Indian villages, have customs, traditions, and social relationships which differ from the rest of Brazilian society. Beginning with the 1988 Federal Constitution, Brazil acknowledges the rights of quilombo communities. Nevertheless, few have had their lands demarcated, and only 29 have received property deeds.

According to a survey conducted by the Palmares Foundation, the Ministry of Culture, the University of Brasília (UnB), and the Association of Rural Black Quilombo Communities (Aconeruq), at least 1,098 communities exist, and they are present in most of the states.

Between now and the end of 2005, the campaign intends to cast light on the problems experienced by the quilombos, make technical and financial resources available so that the communities can acquire deeds to their lands and access to government services (basic sanitation and education, for example), expedite demarcations and land concessions, and demand the participation of these communities in forums where policies for the quilombos are formulated.

Agência Brasil
Reporter: Pedro Malavolta
Translator: David Silberstein
08/19/2004