Carolina Pimentel
Reporter - Agência Brasil

Brasília - Doudou Diène, special rapporteur of the United Nations (UN) Human Rights Commission on Contemporary Forms of Racism, Discrimination, Xenophobia, and Intolerance, said, yesterday (26), that he disagrees with the report issued by Amnesty International (AI) on the human rights situation in Brazil. AI concluded that Brazilian government officials have failed to protect the human rights of the population since 1996.

"After ten days in Brazil, I do not share this opinion. Brazilian leaders are aware of the obstacles and difficulties. If Brazil has not succeeded in restoring all human rights up to now, this can be achieved, given political will," the rapporteur said. The AI report voices concern over the "large number of homicides practiced by the police and the dissemination of torture and mistreatment" in Brazil.

Diêne's visit to Brazil ended yesterday. He gathered data on the measures adopted by the country to confront racial discrimination. Diène's final report will be submitted to the UN in 2006.

Translation: David Silberstein