A/52/471
English
Page 16
workers, foreigners married to French citizens, etc.), in particular, to obtain
visas. Another bill, on nationality, currently being drafted by the Ministry of
Justice would seek to revert to the jus soli system.
40. All these measures are still at the drafting stage. Even so, they reflect
a trend that differs markedly from the approach envisaged by the previous
Government. The Special Rapporteur welcomes this positive development and hopes
that these measures will be improved upon and given material form in laws and
regulations.
D.
Communication from the Brazilian Government
41. In his previous report to the General Assembly, the Special Rapporteur
referred to the dialogue established between the Government of Brazil and
himself after the publication of his report on his mission to Brazil
(E/CN.4/1996/72/Add.1). In the context of this continuing dialogue, he has
received the following communication from that Government:
"[1...] The Brazilian Government has been giving continuous priority to
the implementation of its commitments relating to the struggle against
racial discrimination and inequality of opportunities. In this sense, the
first anniversary of the National Programme for Human Rights, commemorated
on 13 May 1997, was the occasion for an evaluation of the results and
progress achieved concerning the promotion and protection of human rights
in general, and the promotion of the Black population in particular.
"2. The integrated work of Government and civil society has given great
dynamism to the Interministerial Working Group for the Promotion of the
Black Population, created by Presidential decree of 20 November 1995, which
was assigned the task of formulating public policies for the promotion of
the rights of Afro-Brazilians. Among the achievements registered in this
first year of work, the following are to be highlighted:
Creation of the National Programme to Combat Sickle-Cell Anaemia
(a genetic disease affecting mainly individuals of the Negro race);
Inclusion of the item race/colour in death and birth
certificates;
Inclusion of the item race/colour in the school census and in all
statistical surveys in the field of education;
Submission of studies and proposals for the implementation of
article 68 of the Temporary Constitutional Provisions Act concerning the
granting of ownership titles to the occupiers of the remaining Quilombo
lands, like the titles already issued in favour of the communities of
Pacoval and Água Fria (state of Pará);
Proposal for programmes on TV Escola (the educational television
channel) aimed at the revision of Brazilian history from the point of view
of the African contribution to Brazilian social formation;
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