

Currently released so far... 12553 / 251,287
Browse latest releases
2010/12/01
2010/12/02
2010/12/03
2010/12/04
2010/12/05
2010/12/06
2010/12/07
2010/12/08
2010/12/09
2010/12/10
2010/12/11
2010/12/12
2010/12/13
2010/12/14
2010/12/15
2010/12/16
2010/12/17
2010/12/18
2010/12/19
2010/12/20
2010/12/21
2010/12/22
2010/12/23
2010/12/24
2010/12/25
2010/12/26
2010/12/27
2010/12/28
2010/12/29
2010/12/30
2011/01/01
2011/01/02
2011/01/04
2011/01/05
2011/01/07
2011/01/09
2011/01/10
2011/01/11
2011/01/12
2011/01/13
2011/01/14
2011/01/15
2011/01/16
2011/01/17
2011/01/18
2011/01/19
2011/01/20
2011/01/21
2011/01/22
2011/01/23
2011/01/24
2011/01/25
2011/01/26
2011/01/27
2011/01/28
2011/01/29
2011/01/30
2011/01/31
2011/02/01
2011/02/02
2011/02/03
2011/02/04
2011/02/05
2011/02/06
2011/02/07
2011/02/08
2011/02/09
2011/02/10
2011/02/11
2011/02/12
2011/02/13
2011/02/14
2011/02/15
2011/02/16
2011/02/17
2011/02/18
2011/02/19
2011/02/20
2011/02/21
2011/02/22
2011/02/23
2011/02/24
2011/02/25
2011/02/26
2011/02/27
2011/02/28
2011/03/01
2011/03/02
2011/03/03
2011/03/04
2011/03/05
2011/03/06
2011/03/07
2011/03/08
2011/03/09
2011/03/10
2011/03/11
2011/03/13
2011/03/14
2011/03/15
2011/03/16
2011/03/17
2011/03/18
2011/03/19
2011/03/20
2011/03/21
2011/03/22
2011/03/23
2011/03/24
2011/03/25
2011/03/26
2011/03/27
2011/03/28
2011/03/29
2011/03/30
2011/03/31
2011/04/01
2011/04/02
2011/04/03
2011/04/04
2011/04/05
2011/04/06
2011/04/07
2011/04/08
2011/04/09
2011/04/10
2011/04/11
2011/04/12
2011/04/13
2011/04/14
2011/04/15
2011/04/16
2011/04/17
2011/04/18
2011/04/19
2011/04/20
2011/04/21
2011/04/22
2011/04/23
2011/04/24
2011/04/25
2011/04/26
2011/04/27
2011/04/28
2011/04/29
2011/04/30
2011/05/01
2011/05/02
2011/05/03
2011/05/04
2011/05/05
2011/05/06
2011/05/07
2011/05/08
2011/05/09
2011/05/10
2011/05/11
2011/05/12
Browse by creation date
Browse by origin
Embassy Athens
Embassy Asuncion
Embassy Astana
Embassy Asmara
Embassy Ashgabat
Embassy Apia
Embassy Ankara
Embassy Amman
Embassy Algiers
Embassy Addis Ababa
Embassy Accra
Embassy Abuja
Embassy Abu Dhabi
Embassy Abidjan
Consulate Auckland
Consulate Amsterdam
Consulate Adana
American Institute Taiwan, Taipei
Embassy Bujumbura
Embassy Buenos Aires
Embassy Budapest
Embassy Bucharest
Embassy Brussels
Embassy Bridgetown
Embassy Bratislava
Embassy Brasilia
Embassy Bogota
Embassy Bishkek
Embassy Bern
Embassy Berlin
Embassy Belmopan
Embassy Belgrade
Embassy Beirut
Embassy Beijing
Embassy Banjul
Embassy Bangkok
Embassy Bandar Seri Begawan
Embassy Bamako
Embassy Baku
Embassy Baghdad
Consulate Barcelona
Embassy Copenhagen
Embassy Conakry
Embassy Colombo
Embassy Chisinau
Embassy Caracas
Embassy Canberra
Embassy Cairo
Consulate Curacao
Consulate Ciudad Juarez
Consulate Chennai
Consulate Casablanca
Consulate Cape Town
Consulate Calgary
Embassy Dushanbe
Embassy Dublin
Embassy Doha
Embassy Djibouti
Embassy Dili
Embassy Dhaka
Embassy Dar Es Salaam
Embassy Damascus
Embassy Dakar
Consulate Dubai
Embassy Helsinki
Embassy Harare
Embassy Hanoi
Consulate Ho Chi Minh City
Consulate Hermosillo
Consulate Hamilton
Consulate Hamburg
Consulate Halifax
Embassy Kyiv
Embassy Kuwait
Embassy Kuala Lumpur
Embassy Kinshasa
Embassy Kingston
Embassy Kigali
Embassy Khartoum
Embassy Kathmandu
Embassy Kampala
Embassy Kabul
Consulate Kolkata
Embassy Luxembourg
Embassy Luanda
Embassy London
Embassy Ljubljana
Embassy Lisbon
Embassy Lima
Embassy Lilongwe
Embassy La Paz
Consulate Lahore
Consulate Lagos
Mission USOSCE
Mission USNATO
Mission UNESCO
Embassy Muscat
Embassy Moscow
Embassy Montevideo
Embassy Monrovia
Embassy Minsk
Embassy Mexico
Embassy Mbabane
Embassy Maputo
Embassy Manila
Embassy Manama
Embassy Managua
Embassy Malabo
Embassy Madrid
Consulate Munich
Consulate Mumbai
Consulate Montreal
Consulate Monterrey
Consulate Milan
Consulate Melbourne
Embassy Nicosia
Embassy Niamey
Embassy New Delhi
Embassy Ndjamena
Embassy Nassau
Embassy Nairobi
Consulate Naples
Consulate Naha
Embassy Pristina
Embassy Pretoria
Embassy Prague
Embassy Port Of Spain
Embassy Port Louis
Embassy Port Au Prince
Embassy Phnom Penh
Embassy Paris
Embassy Paramaribo
Embassy Panama
Consulate Peshawar
REO Basrah
Embassy Rome
Embassy Riyadh
Embassy Riga
Embassy Reykjavik
Embassy Rangoon
Embassy Rabat
Consulate Rio De Janeiro
Consulate Recife
Secretary of State
Embassy Suva
Embassy Stockholm
Embassy Sofia
Embassy Skopje
Embassy Singapore
Embassy Seoul
Embassy Sarajevo
Embassy Santo Domingo
Embassy Santiago
Embassy Sanaa
Embassy San Salvador
Embassy San Jose
Consulate Strasbourg
Consulate St Petersburg
Consulate Shenyang
Consulate Shanghai
Consulate Sapporo
Consulate Sao Paulo
Embassy Tunis
Embassy Tripoli
Embassy Tokyo
Embassy The Hague
Embassy Tel Aviv
Embassy Tehran
Embassy Tegucigalpa
Embassy Tbilisi
Embassy Tashkent
Embassy Tallinn
Consulate Toronto
Consulate Tijuana
USUN New York
USEU Brussels
US Office Almaty
US Mission Geneva
US Interests Section Havana
US Delegation, Secretary
UNVIE
Embassy Ulaanbaatar
Embassy Vilnius
Embassy Vienna
Embassy Vatican
Embassy Valletta
Consulate Vladivostok
Consulate Vancouver
Browse by tag
APECO
ASEC
AMGT
AFIN
APER
ACABQ
AORC
AEMR
AF
AE
AR
AGMT
AU
AY
ABLD
AS
AG
AJ
APCS
AX
AM
AMEX
ATRN
ADM
AMED
AFGHANISTAN
AZ
AL
ASUP
AND
ARM
ASEAN
AFFAIRS
AQ
ATFN
AMBASSADOR
AODE
APEC
ACBAQ
AFSI
AFSN
AO
ABUD
AC
ADPM
ADCO
ASIG
ARF
AUC
ASEX
AGAO
AA
AER
AVERY
AGRICULTURE
AIT
AADP
ASCH
AORL
AROC
ACOA
ANET
AID
AMCHAMS
AINF
AMG
AFU
AN
ALOW
ASECKFRDCVISKIRFPHUMSMIGEG
ACS
ADANA
AECL
ACAO
AORG
AGR
BEXP
BR
BM
BG
BL
BA
BTIO
BO
BP
BC
BILAT
BK
BU
BD
BRUSSELS
BB
BF
BBSR
BIDEN
BX
BE
BH
BT
BY
BMGT
BWC
BTIU
BN
CA
CASC
CFED
CO
CH
CS
CU
CE
CI
CM
CMGT
CJAN
COM
CG
CIS
CVIS
CR
CKGR
CHR
CVR
COUNTER
CIA
CLINTON
CY
CPAS
CD
CBW
COUNTERTERRORISM
CITEL
CDG
CW
CODEL
COUNTRY
CLEARANCE
COE
CN
CARICOM
CB
CONDOLEEZZA
CWC
CACS
CSW
CIDA
CIC
CITT
CONS
CL
CACM
CDB
CDC
CAN
CF
CJUS
CTM
CBSA
CARSON
CT
CLMT
CBC
CEUDA
CV
COPUOS
CTR
CROS
CAPC
CAC
CNARC
CICTE
CBE
ECON
ETRD
EIND
ENRG
EC
ELAB
EAGR
EAID
EFIS
EFIN
EINV
EUN
EG
EPET
EAIR
EU
ELTN
EWWT
ECIN
ERD
EI
ETTC
EUR
EN
EZ
ETC
ENVI
EMIN
ET
ENVR
ER
ECPS
EINT
EAP
ES
ENIV
ECONOMY
EXTERNAL
EINN
EFTA
ECONOMIC
EPA
EXBS
ECA
ELN
ETRDEINVECINPGOVCS
ENGR
ECUN
ENGY
ECONOMICS
ELECTIONS
EIAR
EINDETRD
EREL
EUC
ECONEFIN
EURN
EDU
ETRDEINVTINTCS
ECIP
ENERG
EFIM
EAIDS
EK
ETRDECONWTOCS
EINVETC
ECONCS
EUNCH
ESA
ECINECONCS
EUREM
ESENV
EFINECONCS
ETRC
ENNP
EAIG
EXIM
EEPET
EINVECONSENVCSJA
EUMEM
ETRA
ERNG
ETRO
ETRN
EINVEFIN
ICTY
IN
IS
IR
IC
IZ
IA
INTERPOL
IAEA
IT
IMO
IO
IV
ID
IRAQI
IEA
INRB
IL
IWC
ITU
ICAO
ISRAELI
ICRC
IIP
IMF
IBRD
ISLAMISTS
ITALY
ITALIAN
ILO
IPR
IQ
IRS
IAHRC
IZPREL
IRAJ
IDP
ILC
ITF
ICJ
IF
ITPHUM
INMARSAT
ISRAEL
IACI
IBET
ITRA
INR
IRC
IDA
ICTR
IGAD
INRA
INRO
IEFIN
INTELSAT
INTERNAL
INDO
ITPGOV
KWMN
KSCA
KDEM
KTFN
KIPR
KCRM
KPAL
KE
KPAO
KPKO
KS
KN
KISL
KFRD
KJUS
KIRF
KFLO
KG
KTIP
KTER
KRCM
KTIA
KGHG
KIRC
KU
KPRP
KMCA
KMPI
KSEO
KNNP
KZ
KNEI
KCOR
KOMC
KCFC
KSTC
KMDR
KFLU
KSAF
KSEP
KSAC
KR
KGIC
KSUM
KWBG
KCIP
KDRG
KOLY
KAWC
KCHG
KHDP
KRVC
KBIO
KAWK
KGCC
KHLS
KBCT
KPLS
KREL
KCFE
KMFO
KV
KFRDKIRFCVISCMGTKOCIASECPHUMSMIGEG
KFTFN
KVPR
KTDB
KSPR
KIDE
KVRP
KTEX
KBTR
KTRD
KICC
KCOM
KO
KLIG
KDEMAF
KMRS
KRAD
KOCI
KSTH
KUNR
KNSD
KGIT
KFSC
KHIV
KPAI
KICA
KACT
KHUM
KREC
KSEC
KFRDCVISCMGTCASCKOCIASECPHUMSMIGEG
KCMR
KPIN
KESS
KDEV
KNAR
KNUC
KPWR
KENV
KWWMN
KWMNCS
KPRV
KOM
KBTS
KCRS
KNPP
KWNM
KRFD
KVIR
KTBT
KAID
KRIM
KDDG
KRGY
KHSA
KWMM
KMOC
KSCI
KPAK
KX
KPAONZ
KCGC
KID
KPOA
KIFR
KFIN
KWAC
KOMS
KCRCM
KNUP
KMIG
KNNPMNUC
KERG
KTLA
KCSY
KJUST
MOPS
MARR
MASS
MNUC
MX
MCAP
MO
MR
MI
MD
MK
MA
MP
MY
MTCRE
MOPPS
MASC
MIL
MTS
MLS
MILI
MAR
MU
MEPN
MAPP
MTCR
MEPI
MZ
MEETINGS
MG
MW
MAS
MT
MCC
MIK
ML
MARAD
MV
MERCOSUR
MTRE
MPOS
MEPP
MILITARY
MDC
MQADHAFI
MUCN
MRCRE
MAPS
MEDIA
MASSMNUC
MC
NZ
NZUS
NL
NU
NATO
NP
NO
NIPP
NE
NH
NR
NA
NPT
NI
NSF
NG
NSG
NAFTA
NC
NDP
NEW
NRR
NATIONAL
NT
NS
NASA
NAR
NV
NORAD
NSSP
NK
NPA
NGO
NSC
NATOPREL
NW
NPG
NSFO
OPDC
OTRA
OIIP
OREP
OVIP
OSCE
OEXC
OIE
OPRC
OAS
OPIC
OTR
OMIG
OSAC
OFFICIALS
OECD
OSCI
OBSP
OFDA
OPCW
ODIP
OFDP
OES
OPAD
OCII
OHUM
OVP
ON
OIC
OCS
PHUM
PREL
PGOV
PINR
PTER
PARM
PREF
PM
PE
PINS
PK
PHSA
PBTS
PRGOV
PA
PORG
PP
PS
PGOF
PL
PO
PARMS
PKFK
PSOE
PEPR
PAK
POL
PPA
PINT
PMAR
PRELP
PREFA
PALESTINIAN
PBIO
PINF
PNG
PMIL
PFOR
PUNE
PGOVLO
PAO
POLITICS
PHUMBA
PSEPC
PTBS
PCUL
PROP
PNAT
PNR
POLINT
PGOVE
PROG
PHALANAGE
PARTY
PDEM
PECON
PROV
PHUMPREL
PGOC
PY
PCI
PLN
PDOV
PREO
PGIV
PHUH
PAS
PU
POGOV
PF
PINL
POV
PAHO
PRL
PG
PRAM
POLITICAL
PARTIES
POLICY
PGOVSMIGKCRMKWMNPHUMCVISKFRDCA
PGGV
PHUS
PSA
PHUMPGOV
PEL
PSI
PAIGH
POSTS
PBT
PTERE
RS
RU
RW
RM
RO
RP
REGION
RSP
RF
RICE
RCMP
RFE
RIGHTS
RIGHTSPOLMIL
ROBERT
RUPREL
RELATIONS
ROOD
REACTION
RSO
REPORT
SENV
SNAR
SCUL
SR
SC
SOCI
SMIG
SI
SP
SU
SO
SW
SY
SA
SZ
SAN
SF
SN
STEINBERG
SG
ST
SIPDIS
SNARIZ
SNARN
SSA
SK
SPCVIS
SOFA
SAARC
SL
SEVN
SARS
SIPRS
SHUM
SANC
SWE
SHI
SYR
SNARCS
SPCE
SYRIA
SEN
SH
SCRS
SENVKGHG
TRGY
TSPL
TPHY
TSPA
TBIO
TI
TW
THPY
TX
TU
TS
TZ
TC
TH
TT
TIP
TO
TERRORISM
TRSY
TINT
TN
TURKEY
TBID
TL
TV
TNGD
TD
TF
TP
TFIN
TAGS
TK
TR
UNSC
UK
UNGA
UN
US
UNHRC
UG
UP
UNMIK
UNHCR
UE
USTR
UNVIE
UAE
UZ
UY
UNO
UNESCO
USEU
USOAS
UV
UNODC
UNCHS
UNFICYP
UNEP
UNIDROIT
UNDESCO
UNDP
UNPUOS
UNC
UNAUS
USUN
UNCHC
UNCHR
UNCND
UNICEF
UNCSD
UNDC
USNC
USPS
USAID
Browse by classification
Community resources
courage is contagious
Viewing cable 09BRASILIA1472, U.S.-Brazil Project on Racial Profiling by the Police --
If you are new to these pages, please read an introduction on the structure of a cable as well as how to discuss them with others. See also the FAQs
Understanding cables
Every cable message consists of three parts:
- The top box shows each cables unique reference number, when and by whom it originally was sent, and what its initial classification was.
- The middle box contains the header information that is associated with the cable. It includes information about the receiver(s) as well as a general subject.
- The bottom box presents the body of the cable. The opening can contain a more specific subject, references to other cables (browse by origin to find them) or additional comment. This is followed by the main contents of the cable: a summary, a collection of specific topics and a comment section.
Discussing cables
If you find meaningful or important information in a cable, please link directly to its unique reference number. Linking to a specific paragraph in the body of a cable is also possible by copying the appropriate link (to be found at theparagraph symbol). Please mark messages for social networking services like Twitter with the hash tags #cablegate and a hash containing the reference ID e.g. #09BRASILIA1472.
Reference ID | Created | Released | Classification | Origin |
---|---|---|---|---|
09BRASILIA1472 | 2009-12-16 14:40 | 2011-02-16 00:00 | UNCLASSIFIED | Embassy Brasilia |
VZCZCXYZ1320
RR RUEHWEB
DE RUEHBR #1472/01 3501441
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
R 161440Z DEC 09
FM AMEMBASSY BRASILIA
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 0148
INFO RUEHBR/AMEMBASSY BRASILIA
RUEHRG/AMCONSUL RECIFE
RUEHRI/AMCONSUL RIO DE JANEIRO
RUEHSO/AMCONSUL SAO PAULO
UNCLAS BRASILIA 001472
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PHUM PREL PGOV ELAB SNAR SOCI KCRM BR
SUBJECT: U.S.-Brazil Project on Racial Profiling by the Police --
Visit of U.S. Technical Experts
REF: BRASILIA 1167; BRASILIA 1292
¶1. . Summary: In meetings in Brasilia December 2-4, three U.S. technical experts, together with representatives of the Brazilian Ministry of Justice, Ministry of External Relations, Special Secretariat for the Promotion of Racial Equality (SEPPIR) and Police Academy of the State of Santa Catarina, planned next steps in a pilot project to combat racial profiling by police in the states of Parana, Santa Catarina and Rio Grande do Sul. Over the next two months, the U.S. experts will collect U.S. police training materials to be translated by the Embassy and provided to Brazilian counterparts. The American experts will return to Brazil in late March 2010 to discuss and test the materials, both for content and methodology for use with students, in workshops with police academy instructors gathered in the city of Florianopolis. The final product of the project is to be a "toolkit" of manuals, bibliographies, DVDs, PowerPoint presentations and laptops that can be used to train police recruits in Brazil's southern states. (Note: The project currently is unfunded and can be completed only if funding is found - see paragraph 17.) End summary.
Police impunity
¶2. According to numerous studies of policing in Brazil, including a recent report of Human Rights Watch entitled "Lethal Force," a 2008 Report of the United Nations Special Rapporteur on Extrajudicial, Summary, or Arbitrary Executions, and annual U.S. State Department Human Rights Reports, police throughout the country routinely commit unlawful executions that are almost never punished. The racial element of such police behavior (while the police are both black and white, the victims are overwhelmingly black) is seldom discussed in part because of a paucity of data, the complexity of the subject, and widespread denial on the part of white Brazilians that racism exists.
¶3. However, the United Nations Development Program (UNDP), in its Human Development Report on Racism, Poverty and Violence - Brazil 2005, documents differential treatment of blacks and whites by the police. According to the report, the proportion of blacks who are victims of police violence is three times that of whites in the State of Rio de Janeiro. The report states: "The probability of blacks dying in clashes with the police is much higher in the slums, where police killings are higher, but the difference between whites and blacks is also disproportional in other urban areas." Moreover, blacks are more likely to be stopped by the police, to be searched, to be arrested and to be forced to pay a bribe. Unlike white Brazilians, blacks, according to various public opinion surveys carried out between 1995 and 1997, fear the police more than they fear common criminals.
A need for training
¶4. Against this background, the Special Secretariat for the Promotion of Racial Equality (SEPPIR), an office of the Brazilian presidency, held its Second National Congress for the Promotion of Racial Equality (CONAPIR) in June 2009 with about 1,500 participants. Several of the resolutions to come out of that conference concerned security and justice, including the following:
-- "Promote the inclusion of the ethnic-racial theme in professional training courses in the areas of health, security and justice."
-- "Stimulate training of agents of Civil Defense, Military Police, Civil Police, Municipal Guards, Firefighting Corps, Ambulance Service and others to give effect to human rights and combat institutional racism."
-- "Require training of Military and Civil Police, as well as Municipal Guards, for respectful treatment during police stops related to Afro-Brazilian religious groups."
A proposal
¶5. During preparations for the Third Meeting of the Steering Group of the U.S.-Brazil Joint Action Plan to Eliminate Racial and Ethnic Discrimination and Promote Equality, SEPPIR, the Brazilian Ministry of External Relations (MRE) and Ministry of Justice proposed to the USG a joint project to combat racial stereotyping and profiling by the Brazilian police (ref A). In ensuing discussions involving the Embassy's Resident Legal Adviser (RLA) (Note: The RLA program has since been shut due to a lack of USG funding. End note.) and poloff, the GOB and USG narrowed the focus to a pilot project in Brazil's three southernmost states - Parana, Santa Catarina and Rio Grande do Sul - chosen largely because of the presence in Santa Catarina of an enlightened and progressive chief of training civil police, Andre Luis Mendes da Silveira.
¶6. On the margins of the Third Meeting of the Joint Action Plan (ref B), the USG agreed to bring U.S. technical experts to Brazil to visit the police and civil society in all three states and to discuss in more detail with the GOB the formulation of a pilot training program.
First steps
¶7. Accordingly, the following U.S. experts traveled separately to Brazil, using U.S. Speaker funding, between November 29 and December 8:
-- Dr. Tracie L. Keesee, Division Chief of Research, Training and Technology, Denver Police Department.
-- Dr. Philip Atiba Goff, Assistant Professor of Social Psychology at the University of California, Los Angeles, and expert on racial bias and discrimination in policing.
-- Dr. Clarence Lusane, Associate Professor of Political Science and International Relations, American University, and expert in anti-discrimination and criminal justice policies. Keesee traveled to Santa Catarina and Rio Grande do Sul November 29-December 2 where she met with police and civil society groups; Goff did the same in Parana December 5-7. Lusane spent December 1 in Sao Paulo with a variety of NGOs focused on police violence. Keesee and Lusane also met with the Military Police of the Federal District on December 2.
¶8. From December 2-4, Keesee, Goff, Lusane and poloff met in Brasilia with the following persons to plan next steps in a pilot project of combat racial profiling in southern Brazil:
-- Jorge Luiz de Quadros, Coordinator of Police Activities, National Program of Public Security and Citizenship (PRONASCI), Ministry of Justice.
-- Diogo Machado, SEPPIR.
-- Bruna Vieira de Paula, MRE.
-- Jorge da Silva, commandant of the State of Rio de Janeiro Military Police (retired).
-- Andre Luis Mendes da Silveira and three of his colleagues, State of Santa Catarina Civil Police.
"Racial Democracy"
¶9. If half of Brazil's population has African blood, as many claim, Brazil has the second largest African-descendant population (after Nigeria) in the world. Jorge da Silva presented a paper noting what he describes as Brazil's "national myth of racial democracy" according to which racism is impossible because of the thoroughness of racial admixture. In light of a national identity that holds "We are all Brazilians of various shades," many white Brazilians are offended when their compatriots claim a black identity. To acknowledge race, some whites believe, is to create divisions in society where none had existed before. Da Silva, who is black, said white Brazilians "look surprised" when they hear that a black man or woman "has experienced racial discrimination and rejection all of his or her life."
¶10. The tendency of Brazilian society to avoid the race issue, da Silva said, is especially prevalent in the police. Seldom is race recorded in police statistics or even in press reports about police operations. If it appears that people of darker skin are targeted by police, it is denied; such apparent targeting might be explained as a focus on the slums, which are high-crime areas and happen to be predominantly black. When Lusane raised this issue with a military police colonel in the Federal District, the colonel scoffed at the idea that the police discriminate on the basis of race, noting that he, like most of his colleagues, has black ancestry dating back a century or two.
¶11. Silveira confirmed that there is a deliberate avoidance of discussion of the influence of race in the behavior of police. Yet, he said, it is common for police to refer pejoratively to a black suspect as "negao" and treat him more roughly than they would a white suspect. Thus, for Silveira whose job is training police, the first objective is to overcome denial that racism exists. This cannot be done by accusing the police but by a calm exposition of facts. Only then can the issue be confronted and solutions found.
Outline of a project
¶12. Quadros stressed the importance of bringing U.S. best practices to Brazil, a bibliography on race and police, and modern teaching methods. He said that any teaching materials brought from the United States and translated into Portuguese could be put onto the Ministry of Justice Web site and thus be available to every state in the country.
¶13. Keesee volunteered to compile relevant materials on cultural competency used in police academies in the United States and provide them for review by Brazilian police instructors. Embassy will endeavor to translate some of the materials. Keesee said the goal should be to create a "toolkit" specifically adapted to the conditions of southern Brazil and containing manuals, bibliographies, DVDs, PowerPoint presentations and laptops. She stressed that the training, to have a significant impact, must reach the military police of all three states. The job of the military police is prevention and first response; they therefore are much more likely to have clashes with the population than are the civil police, an investigative branch.
¶14. Goff noted the importance of conducting research in connection with the project and establishing baseline racial attitudes - of police recruits, existing police, and the community in which they work. Without conducting measurements both before and after the training, it will be impossible to determine to what extent the training was successful. Goff said it was also important to examine the police selection process as some racial attitudes cannot be corrected by training.
¶15. Lusane said that the project should involve the police and black civil society working together at the same table. There must be involvement of and buy-in from the people affected by police racial stereotyping, profiling and abuse. The training should include some historic grounding and a presentation of available data on racial violence. Lusane said there should be an analysis of institutional as well as personal racism and discussion of the intersecting issues of race, sex, class, etc.
Next steps
¶16. The Brazilian and U.S. sides discussed the following next steps to make the pilot project a reality:
-- Provision of U.S. police training materials on racial profiling.
-- Translation into Portuguese of the most important of these materials.
-- U.S. bibliographical material on content of and methodology for police training programs on racial issues.
-- Return to Brazil of Keesee, Goff and either Lusane or his fellow co-chair of U.S. civil society in the Joint Action Plan, Kimberle Crenshaw, to discuss, adapt and test training materials. This will be done in workshops in Florianopolis in late March and will be organized by Andre Luis Mendes da Silveira, head of the civil police academy of Santa Catarina. Silveira will convoke military and civil police instructors from all three southern states for this purpose.
¶17. Comment: The U.S.-Brazil project on racial profiling will require additional funding in order to continue. The expenses will be for travel and per diem of U.S. technical experts, mailing, translating and reproducing training materials, and other incidental costs. Post believes this is a worthy project and should be supported with U.S. Speaker, International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Affairs (INL), International Criminal Investigative Training Assistance Program (ICITAP), or Overseas Prosecutorial Development Assistance and Training (OPDAT), Department of Justice, funds. Implementing this project will improve the effectiveness of policing in Brazil, promote respect for human rights and non-discrimination, and create a model of cooperation under the U.S.-Brazil Joint Action Plan to Eliminate Racial and Ethnic Discrimination and Promote Equality.
KUBISKE