E/CN.4/2002/24 page 36 cooperation of the State Secretary for Human Rights of the Ministry of Justice and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP). Among the achievements of the Working Group and the Ministry of Labour, the following aspects should be highlighted:1 − Publication of the Guide for the Elaboration of Programmes of Action for the Eradication of Racism and Discrimination. It contains guidelines for activities to eliminate racism and promote the access of victims of racism to employment; − Creation of regional centers (Núcleos de Combate à Discriminação no Emprego e na Profissão) in the context of the implementation of ILO Convention No. 111. − Inclusion of the item race/colour in the General Registry for Employment and Unemployment (CAGED) and in the Annual List of Social Information (RAIS); − Inclusion of the item race/colour in the National Plan for Workers’ Qualifications (PLANOR); − Conclusion of a Protocol of Cooperation between the Ministry of Labour and the Ministry of Justice, through the National Council on the Rights of Women, to promote women’s rights to employment and education. 81. Also worth mentioning is the elaboration by the Ministry of Planning, through the Institute for Applied Economic Research (IPEA),2 in July 2001 of a study on Racial inequality in Brazil. The study concluded that “poverty is not ‘democratically’ distributed among races. Blacks are over-represented in poverty”. Housing, income levels, employment and education are also analysed in the study. 82. Equally important is the conclusion between the Ministry of Science and Technology and the Ministry of Culture, through the Palmares Cultural Foundation and the National Research Council (CNP), of a technical cooperation protocol to recognize the importance of the black population to Brazilian culture. The protocol will help Blacks access higher education and will support academic studies on black culture and education. It should further be mentioned that the Palmares Cultural Foundation has made progress towards the granting of ownership titles to the 12 persons occupying traditional Quilombo land and official recognition of 31 titles to Quilombo land. 83. The Brazilian Government also actively participated in the preparations for the World Conference against Racism, Racial Discrimination, Xenophobia and related Intolerance by organizing a consultation with the civil society. Among the Government’s activities was the National Conference against Racism held in July 2001 in Rio de Janeiro, and its participation in the regional preparatory conferences, that took place during the year 2000. 84. The Special Rapporteur welcomes the measures taken by the Brazilian Government and hopes that such measures will contribute to eliminate inequalities in employment and improve the standard of living of Blacks and people of mixed descent. However, the information