GENEVA – The Special Rapporteur on contemporary forms of racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance, Ashwini K.P. began an official visit to Brazil today. The visit will conclude on 16 August 2024. The Special Rapporteur will assess progress and challenges in achieving racial equality and eliminating racial discrimination, including systemic racism. She will assess key trends and issues and examine legislative, policy and institutional frameworks in place in Brazil. The expert will visit Brasilia, Salvador, São Luís, São Paulo, Florianópolis and Rio de Janeiro, where she will meet with federal and state authorities, individuals from racial and ethnic groups, civil society organisations, service providers, academics, and other stakeholders. She will hold an online press conference at 11:00 (GMT-3 – Brasília time) on Friday 16 August 2024. Access will be strictly limited to accredited journalists. Registration should be through unic-riodejaneiro@un.org The Special Rapporteur will present a report summarising her visit and making recommendations to the Brazil to the UN Human Rights Council in June 2025. Background to the mandate Millions of human beings continue to be the victims of varied forms of racism, racial discrimination, anti-Semitism, xenophobia and related intolerance. These scourges not only persist, they are continually assuming new forms. The mandate of the United Nations Special Rapporteur on contemporary forms of racism was created to intensify international efforts to combat these violations of basic human rights. In this role, the Special Rapporteur transmits urgent appeals and communications to States regarding alleged violations of international human rights law; undertakes fact-finding country visits; and submits reports to the UN Human Rights Council and the General Assembly. The Special Rapporteur on contemporary forms of racism is an independent human rights expert appointed by the United Nations Human Rights Council. The mandate was created in 1993 by its predecessor, the Commission on Human Rights (by resolution 1993/20). In 1994, the mandate was defined more precisely by resolution 1994/64. The mandate of the Special Rapporteur was most recently renewed for another period of three years by Human Rights Council resolution 52/36, adopted on 4 April 2023. Ms. Ashwini K.P. (India) was appointed by the Council as the 6th Special Rapporteur on contemporary forms of racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance in October 2022. She took up her functions on 1 November 2022. The Special Rapporteurs are part of what is known as the Special Procedures of the Human Rights Council. Special Procedures, the largest body of independent experts in the UN Human Rights system, is the general name of the Council’s independent fact-finding and monitoring mechanisms that address either specific country situations or thematic issues in all parts of the world. Special Procedures experts work on a voluntary basis; they are not UN staff and do not receive a salary for their work. They are independent from any government or organisation and serve in their individual capacity. For inquiries and media requests, please contact: hrc-sr-racism@un.org For media inquiries related to other UN independent experts please contact Dharisha Indraguptha (dharisha.indraguptha@un.org) Follow news related to the UN’s independent human rights experts on Twitter: @UN_SPExperts.