Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
06BRASILIA1333
2006-07-03 17:44:00
UNCLASSIFIED
Embassy Brasilia
Cable title:
BRAZIL SPONSORS REFLECTIVE RACIAL CONFERENCE
how-toVZCZCXRO8388 PP RUEHAO RUEHCD RUEHGA RUEHGD RUEHGR RUEHHA RUEHHO RUEHMC RUEHNG RUEHNL RUEHQU RUEHRD RUEHRG RUEHRS RUEHTM RUEHVC DE RUEHBR #1333 1841744 ZNR UUUUU ZZH P 031744Z JUL 06 FM AMEMBASSY BRASILIA TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 5965 INFO RUEHRI/AMCONSUL RIO DE JANEIRO 2394 RUEHSO/AMCONSUL SAO PAULO 7349 RUEHRG/AMCONSUL RECIFE 5056 RUCNDT/USMISSION USUN NEW YORK 0150 RUEHWH/WESTERN HEMISPHERIC AFFAIRS DIPL POSTS
UNCLAS BRASILIA 001333
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PHUM PREL PGOV SOCI OAS KNSD BR US
SUBJECT: BRAZIL SPONSORS REFLECTIVE RACIAL CONFERENCE
UNCLAS BRASILIA 001333
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PHUM PREL PGOV SOCI OAS KNSD BR US
SUBJECT: BRAZIL SPONSORS REFLECTIVE RACIAL CONFERENCE
1. Poloff participated in a June 29 meeting hosted by Itamaraty and
SEPPIR (Special Secretariat of Policies for the Promotion of Racial
Equality),an advisory body to the Presidency, which aimed to
explain in more detail the Regional American Conference on Advances
and Challenges in the Action Plan against Racism, Racial
Discrimination, Xenophobia, and Related Intolerances. The
conference will take place in Brasilia, July 26-28, 2006. The
overarching aim of the conference is to bring OAS (Organization of
American States) nations together and provide an interactive forum
between government and civil society to discuss the promotion and
implementation of programs and policies and to increase the
projection and visibility for the promotion of racial equality.
2. Describing the conference as an inner-reflection on the politics
of race relations in the region, Minister Matilde Ribeiro of SEPPIR
affirmed multiple times throughout the discourse that the conference
will not be deliberative in nature, but rather is meant to be an
open dialogue of experiences. When asked for the focus of the
conference, the Minister replied that discussion would revolve
around the Durban Plan of Action, its implementation and the
associated outcomes. According to the Minister, the conference will
not produce a working document. There will be two working groups
(one governmental and one civil society) which will speak in plenary
and a host of break-out groups (mini-plenaries) with a regional
focus. Additional information is available on the conference
website in English: americascontraracismo.com.br.
3. In total the conference hopes to attract 400 individuals, the
expectation being that each country will provide four governmental
representatives and four civil society representatives. SEPPIR
hopes Ministers of Foreign Affairs or a delegate of their choosing
will lead each delegation and has sent out invitations accordingly.
The conference is only open to invitees, pre-selected by the GoB.
4. Comment: Throughout the meeting it appeared that the GoB was not
entirely certain what the conference would accomplish. As a forum
for high-level delegates to discuss racism, the conference can best
be described as a grandiose thought-piece. However, with no
criteria for decision making and no impetus for implementation or
even a working agenda, it is unclear what they expect the outcome of
the conference will be. End Comment
CHICOLA
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PHUM PREL PGOV SOCI OAS KNSD BR US
SUBJECT: BRAZIL SPONSORS REFLECTIVE RACIAL CONFERENCE
1. Poloff participated in a June 29 meeting hosted by Itamaraty and
SEPPIR (Special Secretariat of Policies for the Promotion of Racial
Equality),an advisory body to the Presidency, which aimed to
explain in more detail the Regional American Conference on Advances
and Challenges in the Action Plan against Racism, Racial
Discrimination, Xenophobia, and Related Intolerances. The
conference will take place in Brasilia, July 26-28, 2006. The
overarching aim of the conference is to bring OAS (Organization of
American States) nations together and provide an interactive forum
between government and civil society to discuss the promotion and
implementation of programs and policies and to increase the
projection and visibility for the promotion of racial equality.
2. Describing the conference as an inner-reflection on the politics
of race relations in the region, Minister Matilde Ribeiro of SEPPIR
affirmed multiple times throughout the discourse that the conference
will not be deliberative in nature, but rather is meant to be an
open dialogue of experiences. When asked for the focus of the
conference, the Minister replied that discussion would revolve
around the Durban Plan of Action, its implementation and the
associated outcomes. According to the Minister, the conference will
not produce a working document. There will be two working groups
(one governmental and one civil society) which will speak in plenary
and a host of break-out groups (mini-plenaries) with a regional
focus. Additional information is available on the conference
website in English: americascontraracismo.com.br.
3. In total the conference hopes to attract 400 individuals, the
expectation being that each country will provide four governmental
representatives and four civil society representatives. SEPPIR
hopes Ministers of Foreign Affairs or a delegate of their choosing
will lead each delegation and has sent out invitations accordingly.
The conference is only open to invitees, pre-selected by the GoB.
4. Comment: Throughout the meeting it appeared that the GoB was not
entirely certain what the conference would accomplish. As a forum
for high-level delegates to discuss racism, the conference can best
be described as a grandiose thought-piece. However, with no
criteria for decision making and no impetus for implementation or
even a working agenda, it is unclear what they expect the outcome of
the conference will be. End Comment
CHICOLA