Brasília - Brazil is being sued in the Organization of American States (OAS) for the crime of racism in a case filed by the student Simone André Diniz. In 1997 Diniz applied for a job announced in the classified section of the newspaper "Folha de São Paulo." The want ad was for a domestic worker, "preferably white." Diniz, who is black, answered the ad but was dismissed by the employer.

Feeling herself the victim of discrimination, Diniz went to the police and registered an accusation for the crime of racism. Even though the law was on her side, the courts did not consider the fact a crime. According to a news story published by the magazine "Carta Capital," after appealing to government authorities the student sought the help of non-governmental organizations in the area of human rights and black defense. That is how her case ended up being submitted to the Inter-American Human Rights Commission of the OAS, in Washington (USA).

The international adviser of the Special Secretariat of Human Rights of the Presidency of the Republic, Renata Pelizon, says that she is awaiting a position by the end of the year from the Secretariat of the State of São Paulo to try to reach an accord with Diniz. According to Pelizon, the Secretariat is seeking an understanding between the parties to prevent the judgment of the case from causing negative repercussions for Brazil. "We have already arranged a scholarship for Simone in a preparatory course for university entrance examinations. The Brazilian State recognizes that there were moral damages and hopes to overcome any impasse, and for this reason we are bending all our efforts to this case."

The deputy secretary of the Secretariat of Policies to Promote Racial Equality (Seppir), Douglas Martins de Sousa, says that Brazil, as a member of the OAS, respects the organization's decisions. "The government wants to discuss making reparation of the injury not only in the private sphere but wants for this also to become a preventive instrument for this kind of behavior not to happen."

Diniz's suit asks for a US$ 20 thousand (R$ 55 thousand) indemnification, a scholarship, and the adoption of government measures to promote racial equality. If there is no accord, the Inter-American Human Rights Commission of the OAS is expected to issue a report with recommendations to the Brazilian government.

Agência Brasil
Reporter: Érica Santana
Translator: David Silberstein
12/08/2004