17. The Working Group found that despite Government commitment and initiatives in the area of law and policy, the dismantling of racial discrimination remained slow. Afro-Brazilians constituted more than half of the population, yet they were underrepresented and invisible in the major power structures, the media and the private sector. Institutional racism, discrimination and xenophobia continued to permeate the security and justice systems at all levels. That impeded equal access to justice for people of African descent when they were victims of violations. It manifested in racial profiling, disproportionate numbers of arrests and overrepresentation in the prison population. The Working Group expressed concern about alleged violations of human rights perpetuated by security forces, in particular the military and civil police, against young black people, often with impunity. Afro-Brazilians benefited proportionately less from educational and health-care facilities, the administration of justice, public and private investment, basic infrastructure and other services. The Working Group also expressed concern about the situation of homeless and landless people as well as insufficient housing policies and lack of housing, which negatively affected Afro-Brazilians, in particular in favelas and quilombos. The Working Group raised concerns about the multiple forms of discrimination that affected women and girls of African descent as well as lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender individuals, which manifested in inequalities in access to employment in both the public and private sectors and in health conditions, including high rates of maternal mortality. It also voiced concern about the racism, persecution and violations of cultural rights and the right to religious freedom suffered by the religious communities of African origin, such as Candomblé and Umbanda.

Link to full text of the report: Report-WGAfricanDescent-2014-eng