PRESS RELEASE

Nº 23/05

On June 30, 2005, the President of the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights - IACHR, Mr. Clare K. Roberts begins a promotional visit to the Federal Republic of Brazil, under his capacity of Special Rapporteur on the Rights of Persons of African descent and against Racial Discrimination of the IACHR.

The visit occurs as a result of the official invitation offered by the Government of the Federal Republic of Brazil. The Rapporteur will participate in the First National Conference on the Promotion of Racial Equality during the visit, and he will also hold meetings with authorities and representatives of civil society, especially of the Brazilian Social Movement for the rights of people of African descent.

Besides the Special Rapporteur, the IACHR’s delegation is formed by the Principal Specialist, Mr. Ariel Dulitzky, and the attorney in charge of the Special Rapporteurship, Ms. Maria do Carmo Rebouças da Cruz.

The Special Rapporteur will be in Brasília, the Brazilian capital city, from June 29 to July 2. Then, he will visit Salvador, where he will be staying until July 5. The last city to be visited will be São Paulo, where the Rapporteur will stay until July 7.

The Special Rappourteurship would like to express its gratitude for the collaboration of the Brazilian Government and of the institutions and organizations of civil society, especially those of the Brazilian Social Movement for the rights of people of African descent, on planning this visit.

Washington, DC June 30, 2005