Black movement organizations claim active voice in the implementation of the Brazil-USA racial agreement
WBO Press release
July 20 2023
Group demands greater participation in the resumption of the agreement and suggests a list of joint actions against discrimination
This Tuesday, July 18, a group of 12 organizations from the Brazilian Black movements delivered a letter to representatives of the governments of Brazil and the United States in which they demanded greater participation in the implementation of a binational agreement called JAPER– the acronym in English for the United States-Brazil Joint Action Plan for the Elimination of Ethnic-Racial Discrimination and the Promotion of Equality.
The group understands that the actions from now on will begin to be planned and implemented within the scope of this agreement, as both Brazil and the United States need to have active participation from organized civil society. This participation should be welcomed not only within the scope of the dialogue with the Ministry of Racial Equality, but should extend to all Brazilian and US government agencies that are involved in the actions of their respective areas of responsibility, whether they be actions in the area of health, education or any other.
In addition to these demands, the group also presents a series of suggestions for the full implementation of this agreement that was signed in 2008 by U.S. President George W. Bush and Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva. The organizations consider that JAPER was never implemented satisfactorily, but the current moment brings together the favorable conditions for the resumption of the theme in a combined action of the two countries in which organized civil society on both sides plays a major role.
The letter was delivered, on the Brazilian side, to Minister of Racial Equality Anielle Franco, and, on the American side, to Desirée Cormier Smith, the Special Representative for Racial Equality and Justice . The articulation of the 11 organizations involved and the dialogue with the authorities to whom the text was addressed included the participation of the Washington Brazil Office (WBO).
The organizations identify three main problems: the "lack of interest of past administrations in implementing the agreement, the absence of an objective implementation strategy, and mainly the under-representation of civil society organizations in the design and implementation of the plan", according the document text.
Repeated Demand
This is the second letter that Brazilian Black movements have sent to the authorities in Brazil and the United States about JAPER. The first letter was sent on February 8, 2023 to Presidents Lula and Joe Biden, a few days before the meeting between the two, which took place in Washington.
Three months later, on May 22, 2023, the group was received by the Ministry of Racial Equality to present demands for greater participation by civil society in the implementation of JAPER. Despite the welcome, the following day, the official relaunch of JAPER in Brazil in which the thematic working groups were set up, ended up taking place without the participation demanded by organized civil society organizations.
The group considers that "the proposals presented within the thematic axes proved to be largely insufficient to constitute an effective intervention to confront racism in view of its structural character in the societies of both countries and in all other societies of the African diaspora." In addition, " the need for civil society participation in the discussion and proposals for actions that reflect the needs of the Afro-descendant population of both countries is evident."
In the letter sent to the two governments this Tuesday, July 18, 2023, a series of concrete suggestions are presented for an implementation of JAPER that contemplates the perspective of the organizations. Among the points are the creation of funds aimed at the economic development of the Black population with contributions from development agencies in both countries, in addition to the professional insertion of Black men and women, especially in the areas of science, technology, and mathematics. The group also mentions the inclusion of Black scholars in bilateral academic cooperation programs and the participation of Black authors in the formulation of didactic materials, among other measures.
The following organizations sign the letter:
Center for the Study of Labor Relations and Inequalities – CEERT
Collective of Black Entities - CEN
Agbara Fund
Geledés – Institute of the Black Woman
Peregum Black Reference Institute
Maria and João Aleixo Institute – IMJA
Marielle Franco Institute
Steve Biko Cultural Institute – ICSB
Favela Data and Narrative Laboratory – LabJaca
N'Zinga Black Women's Collective
ODARA - Black Women's Institute UNEAFRO Brazil
Washington Brazil Office – WBO
