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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