E/CN.4/2006/16/Add.3 page 8 after the disclosure of shocking statistics indicating that in the city of Salvador 631 people have been assassinated in the first eight months of 2005, almost all of them being young Blacks: this is an increase of 19 per cent compared to last years’ figures. The majority of these crimes have not been sanctioned. The Council will deal with other issues such as the persecution and assassination of homosexuals, religious intolerance against religion of African origins, the fight for the recognition of quilombos, the improvement of education, health and housing, the demarcation of indigenous land and the eradication of institutional racism. 19. The Governor of Recife, in the State of Pernambuco, indicated that racism is not a pertinent problem of Brazil. Racism exists but is limited, while social disparities and violence are prevalent. He said the country has black idols in football and music, which shows the lack of racism. However, whenever racism occurs, it is denounced and sanctioned. Concerning the policies put in place, a regional conference on racial equality was organized in May 2005, and debates on human rights issues are organized around the country. 20. The representative of the federal police of Pernambuco indicated that racism is rare and limited to a few cases in the State. Brazilians make jokes and this is sometimes interpreted as prejudices. Also, some people try to take advantage of the anti-racism legislation for their own interests. Concerning murders by the police, he indicated that there have been no death squads in the last year and a half. A military police officer killed an Indian in 2005, reportedly: in this context, he regretted that NGOs and the Church always defend Indians without acknowledging that they can also be criminals. Finally, he said he was not aware of any discriminatory treatment of asylum-seekers in Pernambuco. 21. In São Paulo, the Special Rapporteur was informed of the creation in 1993 of a Council for Black Community Participation and Development, at the State level, which gathers the civil society organizations in order to advise the Government on the development of public policy. The Secretary of State for Justice, the first Afro-Brazilian in this position, stated that while racism is generally recognized in the political sphere, the media and the population largely deny it. Racial discrimination is evident in the widespread poverty, hunger, medical and educational exclusion, lack of access to employment, justice and political participation for the black population. It is also manifest in the denigration of religions of African origin. Solutions to these problems must be given within each ministry, State department and municipality. The Secretariat for Justice and its Council work in partnership with the Secretariat for Education on quotas, with the Secretariat for Health in addressing the needs of the black population. It also works on the rediscovery and preservation of the culture of people of African descent, the promotion of a neutral or positive image of Blacks in the media, and the training of teachers and police officers. Finally, the Special Rapporteur noted with great interest that the Secretariat for Justice is creating a police station for racial crimes. 22. The Secretary for Human Rights of the State of Rio de Janeiro referred to the recent emblematic case of the murder by the police of a black man in São Paulo: when it was discovered that he was a dentist, there were great repercussions for the case and the police officers were speedily tried and condemned. This is practically a unique case: for the thousands of other similar murder cases, nothing is done. Rio de Janeiro is the only State that has an external controller for the police, which illustrates the gravity of the situation. In a recent massacre by the police of 29 people, all Black, with one survivor, the Secretariat for Human Rights assisted the external controller in its work and proposed and obtained the adoption by the