President: JOÃO PAULO CUNHA (PT-SP) First Vice-President: INOCENCIO OLIVEIRA (PFL-PE) Second Vice-President: LUIZ PIAUHYLINO (PTB-PE) First Secretary : GEDDEL VIEIRA LIMA (PMDB- BA) Second Secretary: SEVERINO CAVALCANTI (PP- PE) Third Secretary: NILTON CAPIXABA (PTB-RO) Fourth Secretary: CIRO NOGUEIRA (PP-PI)
Secretary Deputies
First Deputy: GONZAGA PATRIOTA (PSB-PE) Second Deputy: WILSON SANTOS (PSDB-MT) Third Deputy: CONFUCIO MOURA (PMDB-RO) Fourth Deputy: JOAO CALDAS (PL-AL)
Director General: Sergio Sampaio Contreiras deAlmeida Secretary General: Mozart Vianna de Paiva HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES Mixed Parliamentary Front for Free Sexual Expression Brazil without Homophobia Program Program for Combating Violence and Discrimination against Gays, Lesbians, Transgenders and Bisexuals (GLTB) and the Promotion of Citizenship among Homosexuals
2nd edition
Center for Documentation and Information Publication Coordination BRASILIA — 2004 HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
LEGISLATIVE SUPERVISION Director: Afrísio Vieira Lima Filho
CENTER FOR DOCUMENTATION AND INFORMATION Director: Nelda Mendonfa Raulino
PUBLICATION COORDINATION Director: Maria Clara Bicudo Cesar
1st edition: Ministry of Health / National Anti-Discrimination Council (CNCD - Conselho Nacional de Combate à Discriminação) 2004.
House of Representatives Center for Documentation and Information (CEDI - Centro de Documentacao e Informação) Coordination of Publications (CODEP - Coordenação de Publicações) Anexo II, térreo Praça dos Três Poderes 70160-900 — Brasília (DF) Phone: (55-61) 216-5802; fax: (55-61) 216-5810 [email protected] TABLE OF CONTENTS
Introduction Preface to the First Edition To Janaina Introduction Principles of the Brazil Without Homophobia Program Justification Program of Actions I - Building up the Homosexual Rights Promotion Policy II - Legislation and Justice III - International Cooperation IV - Right to Safety and Security: Combating Violence and Impunity IV - The Right to Education: promoting the values of respect for peace and non-discrimination based on sexual preferences VI - Right to Health Care: consolidating equal treatment and health care VII - Right to work: making an access policy and promoting non-discrimination based on sexual preference VIII - Right to Culture: constructing a policy underpinning the Culture of Peace and values promoting human diversity IX - Policy for Youth X - Policy for women XI - Policy against racism and homophobia Implementation of the Program Monitoring and Assessing Frequently Asked Questions Acknowledgments Glossary Introduction
Article 5 of the Brazilian Constitution states that everyone is equal before the law with no distinctions of any type whatsoever. Citizenship and the dignity of human beings are among the foundations of our social organization. Moreover, one of the four objectives of the Brazilian Republic is “to foster the welfare of all, free of prejudice based on origin, race, gender, color, age and any other types of discrimination.”
Brazil has sought to move ahead towards ensuring mechanisms that combat exclusion and discrimination. Combating racism and gender inequalities are already part of the nation’s agenda. Protecting human rights is a matter of concern for Brazil’s Legislatures, as well as the Federal, State and Municipal Executive branches. Despite this progress, and although the Gay Pride Parade in São Paulo is among the largest events of its kind in the world, Brazil has a high level of violence against homosexuals. Homophobia, mistrust and a lack of accurate information prevail over tolerance, respect and acceptance of diversity. Free choice of sexual preference and its expression are not yet fully guaranteed. Consequently, Brazil has built up a debt towards millions of its citizens whose rights are not yet fully guaranteed: a debt to Brazilian gays, lesbians, transvestites and transsexuals who are still unable to express their sexual preferences freely without being subject to prejudice. There are still no laws protecting them from discrimination or assuring them the possibility of establishing stable relationships protected by the law.
Brazil’s National Congress has proven a decisive and decisory forum for reversing this situation, where several draft bills are under consideration, focused on the citizens’ rights of the gay, lesbian, transvestite and transsexual (GLTT) population of Brazil. Prompted by these needs and discussions, the Mixed Parliamentary Front for Free Sexual Expression (Frente Parlamentar Mixta pela Livre Expressão Sexual) was established in October 2003, in order to gather together all parliamentarians committed to ensuring the human rights of gays, lesbians, transvestites and transsexuals, while also combating all types of discrimination and prejudice, always reaffirming the lay and republican nature of the Brazilian State.
The launch of the Brazil Without Homophobia Program clearly indicates that the Government headed by President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva is also deeply involved in dealing with prejudice and achieving full citizenship with no exclusions of any kind whatsoever.
The Mixed Parliamentary Front for Free Sexual Expression has been focusing its efforts on combating homophobia, while also drafting bills of interest to Brazil’s homosexual population, building up support for their approval. Recently, this Front achieved an important victory over homophobia, achieving the rejection of a draft bill that attempted to curtail homosexual rights through banning expressions of affection for this segment of the population.
Mixed Parliamentary Front for Free Sexual Expression Preface to the First Edition
The Program for Combating Violence and Discrimination against Gays, Lesbians, Transgenders and Bisexuals (GLTB) and the Promotion of Citizenship among Homosexuals, under the banner of Brazil Without Homophobia is a springboard for extending and strengthening the exercise of citizenship in Brazil. A real historical milestone in the struggle for the right to dignity and respect for differences, this reflects the consolidation of political, social and legal advances, accomplished with so much effort.
By taking the initiative to draw up this Program, the Brazilian Government acknowledges the efforts of thousands of Brazilian men and women who have been battling since the 1980s to guarantee homosexual human rights.
The Brazil Without Homophobia Program is based on highly successful connections between the Brazilian Government and organized civil society, which has been working intensively for some six months in order to achieve the results presented in this publication. I wish to offer our thanks for the dedication of all these militants and also to Janaina Dutra Sampaio, who left her testimony of courage and dignity during her time with the National Anti-Discrimination Council (CNCD - Conselho Nacional de Combate à Discriminação).
One of the core purposes of this Program is education for changing the behavior of government administrators. We adopted a positive stance, firm and sincere, refusing to accept any discriminatory act, with our battle-cry being “No to Violence”.
It is expected that this interministerial integration will prosper and forge ahead in partnership with the homosexual movement, leading to the implementation of new parameters that define government policies, encompassing millions of Brazilians in a broad-ranging and decent manner. The Government policies reflected in this Program will be successful because they reflect a consensus decision taken by all. However, the participation of each of us as citizens is vital for consolidating human rights as the proper heritage of everyone.
Nilmário Miranda
Special Secretary for Human Rights To Janaina
The name on Janaina’s birth certificate is Jaime César Dutra Sampaio. Born in the Canindé district of Ceará State, he graduated as a lawyer, becoming known as Dr. Jaime. However, his transvestite preference was stronger than the conventions of society, and Jaime began to cross-dress, living as Janaina. This was the first and perhaps the only time in the entire history of Brazil that a transvestite was accepted as card-carrying member of the Brazilian Law Society (OAB - Ordem dos Advogados do Brasil). In 1989, she became a militant fighting for homosexuals human rights, as the Vice-President of the White Wing Resistance Group (GRAB - Grupo de Resistência Asa Branca), in Fortaleza. She established the Ceará Transvestites’ Association (ATRAC - Associação de Travestis do Ceará) and served as the Secretary for Human Rights (alternate) of the Brazilian Association of Gays, Lesbians, and Transgenders (ANTRA -Associação Brasileira de Gays, Lésbicas e Transgêneros); she also chaired the National Transgenders’ Association (ANTRA - Associação Nacional de Transgêneros), and held a seat on the National Anti-Discrimination Council (CNCD - Conselho Nacional de Combate à Discriminação). A leading figure in the “trans” movement, she always had a copy to hand of the municipal law passed by her hometown against homophobia. Having attended many congresses, round tables and seminars on human rights, AIDS and transvestism, she died of lung cancer on February 8, 2004 at the age of 43. Published in the Brazilian press, some of the opinions and statements of Janaina disclose the greatness of her character and the altruism of her life purposes. Teen transvestites
“While still completing their basic education, at around thirteen or fourteen years old, young transvestites generally begin the hormonization processes, followed by silicone implants and prejudice. Particularly in Northeast Brazil, the family does not accept this and the boy is thrown out of the home, with prostitution offering the only way of earning a living. I often compare the transvestite to an island, but surrounded by violence on every side, instead of water.”
The need for vocation training for transvestites
“Our goal is to upgrade the quality of life among transvestites. Citizenship and the quest for knowledge offer alternatives to prostitution, as this ends one day and does not last an entire lifetime, I urge a quotas policy that ensures the participation of transvestites on the labor market, in addition to government policies forcing schools to teach respect to diversity.”
Enhancing the image of transgenders
Transvestites have always been viewed as the dangerous dregs of society. The recent campaign run by the Ministry of Health underscoring the citizens’ rights of transvestites and transsexuals will help break down these prejudices and get across a message of respect and self-esteem.
A mild but dynamic figure, looking like the Queen of the Sea with her long tresses, Janaina was much loved by the militants heading up Brazil’s homosexual movement, who wept at her premature demise. The example of struggle set by Janaina will remain in our memories forever. Introduction
Under the aegis of Brazil’s Human Rights, Rights for All Program, the 2004-2007 Plurianual Plan defined the Preparation of the Plan for Combating Discrimination against Homosexuals. In order to implement this commitment, the Special Human Rights Bureau launched the Brazil Without Homophobia Program for Combating Violence and Discrimination against Gays, Lesbians, Transgenders and Bisexuals and the Promotion of Homosexual Citizenship, in order to ensure citizens’ rights for gays, lesbians, transvestites, transgenders and bisexuals through establishing equal rights and combating homophobic violence and discrimination, respecting the specific characteristics of each of these population groups.
In order to attain this objective, this Program is divided in two segments whose actions focus on:
a) supporting projects designed to buttress government institutions and non-governmental entities striving to promote homosexual citizens’ rights and/or combating homophobia;
b) capacity-building for professionals and representatives of the homosexual movement working to protect human rights;
c) dissemination of information on homosexual rights while enhancing the self-esteem of this segment of the population; and
d) incentives to denounce violations of human rights against the GLTB segment. Principles of the Brazil Without Homophobia Program:
. The inclusion of the aspect of non-discrimination due to sexual preferences and the promotion of human rights for gays, lesbians, transgenders and bisexuals (GLTB) in Federal Government policies and strategies, to be implemented either partially or fully by the various Ministries and Bureaus.
. The production of knowledge underpinning the preparation, implementation and assessment of government policies designed to combat violence and discrimination based on sexual preferences, ensuring that the Brazilian Government includes the aspect of sexual preference and gays, lesbians, transgenders and bisexuals (GLTB) segment in nationwide surveys to be carried out by government entities in the direct and indirect civil services.
. The reaffirmation that defending, ensuring and promoting human rights includes combating all types of discrimination and violence and, consequently, combating homophobia and promoting homosexual human rights is a commitment of the State and Brazilian Society.
The issue of discrimination based on sexual preference was tabled formally for the first time at a United Nations forum during the World Conference on Women held in Beijing (1995) set forth by the Swedish Delegation. As the approval of any proposal by the Conference requires consensus among the states, the objections raised by Islamic delegations prevented its adoption.
The discussion of non-discrimination based on sexual preferences was revived in a more organized manner during the Preparations for the World Conference against Racism, Racial Discrimination, Xenophobia and Related Intolerance1, held in Durban, South Africa (2001). The preparations for the Brazilian position at the Durban Conference involved ample participation by organized civil society, with the issue of discrimination based on sexual preference being one of the main issues raised on that occasion.
Based on its close links and consultations with organized civil society, the Brazilian Government tabled this topic for the Regional Conference of the Americas, held in Santiago, Chile in 2000, prior to the Durban Conference. The Declaration of Santiago is binding on all the countries of the Americas, with wording that mentions sexual preferences among the more severe forms of racial discrimination, exhorting the States to prevent and combat it.
During the World Conference in Durban, Brazil introduced the topic of discrimination against sexual preference during the plenary session, together with a diagnosis of the situation in Brazil and a list of proposals, both included in the Country Report. The Brazilian proposal to include sexual preference among the types of discrimination that worsens racism was supported by various delegations, particularly Europe. However, this proposal was not included in the final wording of the Declaration and Plan of Action produced by the Durban conference.
The second version of Brazil’s National Human Rights Program (PNDH II, 2002) contained a section on this matter, with fifteen actions to be implemented by the Brazilian Government to combat discrimination based on sexual preference, while heightening awareness among society of the importance of ensuring the rights of freedom and equality for gays, lesbians, transvestites, transgenders and bisexuals. The actions listed in Brazil’s National Human Rights Program were discussed with organized civil society through a broad-
1 See the Report prepared by the National Committee in preparation for Brazil’s participation in the III UN World Conference against Racism, Racial Discrimination, Xenophobia and Related Intolerance, Brasilia, Ministry of Justice (2001). based public consultation process.
The establishment of Brazil’s National Anti-Discrimination Council (CNCD - Conselho Nacional de Combate à Discriminação) in October 2001 was one the first steps taken by the Brazilian Government to implement recommendations arising from the Durban Conference. The issues dealt with by this Council include combating discrimination based on sexual preference. Representatives of civil society organizations and gay, lesbian and transgender movements sit on this Council, with a Permanent Special Commission that was set up in 2003 to receive denunciations of violations of human rights based on sexual preference. Additionally, this Council established a working group in November 2003 in order to draw up the Brazilian Program for combating violence and discrimination against gays, lesbians, transvestites, transgenders and bisexuals (GLTTB) and the Promotion of Homosexual Citizenship. Its purpose is to prevent and repress discrimination based on sexual preference, ensuring the full exercise of human rights for the GLTB segment.
In parallel to these actions, an Administrative Resolution was adopted by Brazil’s National Immigration Council (CNI - Conselho Nacional de Imigração) in 2003, through which Brazil now acknowledges unions between persons of the same gender, for the purposes of granting visas, provided that they are proven to be stable relationships. Consequently, the companion of a Brazilian citizen or a foreigner living in Brazil may receive a temporary or permanent visa, or be granted a definitive residence permit, regardless of gender, in order to rejoin a partner already living in Brazil.
Finally, this Program for Combating Violence and Discrimination against GLTBs and promoting Homosexual Citizenship, Brazil Without Homophobia quite clearly indicates to Brazilian society that as long as there are citizens whose fundamental rights are not respected for reasons related to discrimination based on sexual preference, race, ethnic background, age, religious beliefs or political opinions, it may not be said that Brazilian is a fair, egalitarian, democratic and tolerant nation. Through this new Program, the Brazilian Government is taking a vital step towards building up a true Culture of Peace. Justification
Since the early 1980s, the struggle to ensure the human rights of gays, lesbians, transvestites, transgenders and bisexuals (GLTB) has been building up steadily in Brazil. Activist groups and associations have multiplied nationwide, currently consisting of around 140 entities scattered all over the country. The power of activism has been expressed in different ways and at different times, with commemorative events such as World Gay Pride Day, celebrated by Gay Pride Parades mobilizing millions of people all over Brazil. These events should quite rightly be rated as the most extraordinary political mass demonstrations at the start of this millennium in Brazil. Active in fields such as Healthcare, Education and Justice, organized Brazilian homosexuals must deal with the long-established situation of discrimination and marginalization in which they have been placed by Brazilian society. In addition to the struggle to see their lawful civil, social and political rights acknowledged, their activities have extended to encompass notable levels of engagement in dealing with severe problems in the public interest, particularly their mobilization in the battle against HIV/AIDS in Brazil and combating urban violence.2 Within both these contexts, an effective partnership has been built up between GLTB groups and Municipal, State and Federal Government healthcare and public security entities. There is no doubt that the struggle for full citizenship is proving well worthwhile. Homosexuality was removed from the list of diseases by the Brazil’s Federal Medicine Council in 1985 (several years before the World Health Organization followed suit). In 1999, the Federal Psychology Council stipulated that no practitioner could perform any “action favoring the pathologization of homoerotic
2 A pioneering experience in this area was the Homosexual Hotline (DDH - Disque Defesa Homosexual) established in Rio de Janeiro in 1999, which now functions in other towns as well, such as Campinas (Centro de Defesa ao Homossexual), Brasilia (Disque Cidadania Homossexual) and Salvador. behaviors or practices.” 3 As Brazil’s 1998 Constitution does not list sexual preference among the various types of discrimination, various State Constitutions and Municipal Laws have been explicitly including this type of discrimination. At the moment, there is a ban on discrimination based on sexual preference in three State Constitutions (Mato Grosso, Sergipe and Pará) with specific legislation on this matter in five other States (Rio de Janeiro, Santa Catarina, Minas Gerais, São Paulo and Rio Grande do Sul), as well as the Federal District, in addition to more than eighty Brazilian Municipalities having some type of law designed to protect homosexual human rights and combat discrimination based on sexual preferences. Over the past few years, Brazil’s Judiciary has been moving to the fore as another sector clearly progressing in the defense of sexual rights in Brazil. In some cases, it has extended pension rights to homosexual couples in case of death and imprisonment, when ordered by the National Social Security Institute (INSS), in 2001, when lawsuits were filed by homosexual activist groups that paved the way for changes in Brazilian law. Other cases established several important case law precedents, paving the way for the acknowledgment of homosexual rights to custody of children being raised with their same-sex partners (such as custody of the son of singer Cassia Eller, after her death). Particularly outstanding in the criminal law area is the landmark decision handed down by Judge Luis Fernando Camargo de Barros Vidal, combating crimes of hate in Brazil and sentencing the murderers of Edson Néris, who was brutally lynched in downtown São Paulo in 2000, just for walking hand-in-hand with his boyfriend. By highlighting the triumphs of the past few years shielding the rights of Brazilian homosexuals, we should nevertheless also acknowledge that higher profiles and better organization has allowed more accurate assessments of the severity and extent of breaches of their fundamental rights and guarantees.
3 Cf. Resolution CFP nr. 1/99, March 22, 1999 - “Establishes the rules of conduct for psychologists in terms of the issue of sexual preference.” Lethal violence against homosexuals - particularly targeting transvestites and transgenders - is undoubtedly one of the more tragic aspects of discrimination based on sexual preference or homophobia in Brazil. This violence has been denounced vehemently by the gays, lesbians, transvestites, transgenders and bisexuals (GLTB) movement, as well as by researchers at several different Brazilian universities and civil society organizations that are attempting to produce reliable data on this situation. Grounded on a series based on news items about violence against homosexuals published in Brazilian newspapers, the data disclosed by the homosexual movement are alarming, showing that hundreds of gays, transvestites and lesbians have been murdered in Brazil over the past few years.4 Like Edson Néris, many of them died merely because they dared to express their sexual and affective preferences in public. In parallel to the extreme situation of murder, many other types of violence have been indicated, involving relatives, neighbors, work-mates or even public institutions such as schools, the Armed Forces, the Courts or the Police. Recent surveys of violence affecting homosexuals give a more accurate idea of the more silent but everyday dynamics of homophobia, encompassing humiliation, insults and extortion. A survey carried out by the Homosexual Hotline (DDH - Disque Defesa Homossexual) run by the Rio de Janeiro State Security Bureau showed that during its first eighteen months in operation (June 1999 to December 2000), five hundred accusations were called in, showing that in addition to a significant number of murders (6.33%) there were frequent denunciations of discrimination (20.2%), physical aggression (18.7%), and extortion (10.3%).5
4 Among other publications, see Violação dos direitos humanos e assassinato de homossexuais no Brasil - 1999 (2000); Assassinato de homossexuais: Manual de Coleta de Informações, Sistematização e Mobilização Política contra Crimes Homofóbicos (2000); Causa Mortis: Homofobia (2001); O Crime Anti-Homossexual no Brasil (2002), organized by Luiz Mott et alli, Editora Grupo Gay da Bahia.
5 See Disque Defesa Homossexual: Narrativas da violência na primeira pessoa. Silvia Ramos (2001) Communications ISER, nr. 56, year 20. Along the same lines, the findings of a recent study of violence in Rio de Janeiro, involving 416 gays, lesbians, transvestites, transgenders and bisexuals6 revealed that 60% of the interviewees had already suffered some type of aggression prompted by their sexual preferences, confirming that homophobia appears in many different ways and in very significant proportions. When asked about the type of aggression experienced, 16.6% said that they had suffered physical aggression (rising to 42.3% among transvestites and transsexuals), 18% had already suffered some type of blackmail and extortion (rising to 30.8% among transvestites and transsexuals), with 56.3% declaring that they had been cursed, insulted and threatened about their homosexuality. Moreover, 58.5% stated that they had experienced discrimination or humiliation due to their sexual preferences, such as being prevented from entering commercial establishments, being thrown out of their homes, or mistreated by civil servants, school-mates, work-mates, and other colleagues, friends and relatives, teasing, and problems at school, at work or in the neighborhood. The findings of this survey also show that homosexual women are more severely victimized in the home (22.4%), confirming the perception among lesbian organizations that homosexual women are dual victims of violence and discrimination, as women and as lesbians, and these cases the violence is even more severe as it occurs within the family. Other recent surveys have also produced significant data on the discrimination suffered by homosexuals in various social contexts. Looking at the classroom, some data from a recent survey carried out by UNESCO7 should be noted, involving Brazilian students completing their basic education, their parents and teachers. This survey shows that teachers not only tend to remain silent when faced by
6 See Política, Direitos, Violência e Homossexualidade. Coordinated by: Sérgio Carrara, Sílvia Ramos and Marcio Caetano (2002). Produced by the Grupo Arco-Íris de Conscientização Homossexual, Centro de Estudos de Segurança e Cidadania/Candido Mendes University and Latin American Center for Sexuality and Human Rights / Ministry of Health / Rio de Janeiro State University (UERJ), Rio de Janeiro: Pallas Ed.
7 See Juventude e Sexualidade. Miriam Abramovay, Mary Garcia Castro and Lorena Bernadete da Silva (2004), Brasilia, UNESCO Brazil. homophobia, but often contribute actively to reproducing this violence. Carried out in fourteen State Capitals in Brazil, this survey also disclosed that more than a third of the parents of students would not like homosexuals to study at the same schools as their children (rising to 46.4% in Recife), with around a quarter of the students interviewed making similar declarations. Additionally, major difficulties are noted in investigating violence and discrimination targeting gays, lesbians, transvestites, transgenders, transsexuals and bisexuals, and above all for punishing aggressors. This scenario has also been stressed by surveys whose findings indicate the persistence of mistaken and prejudiced concepts in this field that result in high levels of impunity, particularly in terms of violence against transvestites and transgenders.8 In many cases, law enforcement agents and officers of the courts and other State entities - like much of Brazilian society - are quite unprepared to deal with lethal violence against homosexuals, with prejudice continuing to “victimize” prisoners in many different ways.
8 See Homossexualidade, Violência e Justiça: A violência letal contra homossexuais no município do Rio de Janeiro, Sergio Carrrara and Adriana R.B. Vianna (2001), Research Report (mimeo), Latin American Center for Sexuality and Human Rights / Ministry of Health / Rio de Janeiro State University (UERJ). Program of Action
I - Building up the Homosexual Rights Promotion Policy
1. Create the Brazilian Program Combating Discrimination Against Gays, Lesbians, Transvestites, Transgenders and Bisexuals (GLTTB), translated into a set of Government actions to be implemented either partially or fully by the Brazilian Government;
2. Support and encourage the participation of the GLTTB segment in social control mechanisms already found within the Government, also developing strategies and underpinning the feasibility of establishing and strengthening State and Municipal Human Rights Councils and the GLTTB forums.
3. Establish and/or strengthen Human Rights Councils, taking into account situations violating human rights, encouraging social mobilization focused on the issue of sexual preference, and defining the terms of reference for the implementation and functioning of these Councils.
4. Support and strengthen the participation of the GLTTB segment in the National Anti-Discrimination Council, creating new working groups that will draw up pilot plans replicating the goals and objectives of the Program Combating Violence and Discrimination against GLTTB and Promoting Homosexual Citizenship: Brazil without Homophobia, in States and Municipalities.
5. Support the maintenance of the Human Rights Reference Centers involved in combating discrimination and violence against the GLTTB segment, able to trigger integrated actions by government institutions and non-government entities, focused on producing knowledge and drafting government policies designed to implement articulated actions in order to promote and protect human rights. 6. In partnership with other government areas, build up and implement advertising activities in the public interest, together with institutional campaigns publicizing the program combating violence and discrimination against GLTTB and Promoting Homosexual Citizenship, Brazil without Homophobia, in order to boost transfers of information on this matter and above all to heighten the awareness of Brazilian society to a culture of peace and non-violence, free from discrimination against homosexuals.
7. Support the preparation of technical tools to accept, support and respond to demands from gays, lesbians, transvestites, transgenders and bisexuals, through establishing partnerships with organized civil society, in order to: a) set up a nationwide network providing social and legal support for gays, lesbians, transvestites, transgenders and bisexuals victimized by violence, beginning mainly in states with higher rates of violence and discrimination against homosexuals; b) build up the capacities of the technical staff of the Human Rights Hotlines (DDH - Disque Direitos Humanos); and c) establish a National Information System for GLTTB Human Rights.
8. Propose alterations to the structure of the National Anti-Discrimination Council, in order to ensure that this entity may also be open to consultations and take decisions on establishing lines of support for projects implemented by the GLTTB movements, designed to build up links while encouraging and assessing the government policies defined in this Program.
9. Encourage networking and partnerships among government entities, research institutes and universities, in order to draw up specific strategies and technical tools able to chart the social and economic conditions of the homosexual segment of the population, monitoring the resulting indicators on combating discrimination based on sexual preference, which will be established at a later date. II - Legislation and Justice
10. Support and disseminate draft bills submitted to the Brazilian Parliament that ban discrimination based on sexual preferences while ensuring homosexual rights, in compliance with the Report prepared by the National Committee for Brazil’s participation in the United Nations III Conference against Racism, Racial Discrimination, Xenophobia and Related Intolerance and the Resolutions adopted by the National Anti-Discrimination Council.
11. In partnership with organizations protecting homosexual rights, the Federal Prosecutor’s Office for Citizens Rights under the Department of Justice and the Ministry of Labor, prepare and publish compendia of laws, court decisions and regulatory instructions already effective in Brazil and that addressing the GLTTB segment.
12. Establish and implement awareness-heightening strategies for practitioners of the Law, legislative advisors and the administrators of government policies focused on homosexual rights.
III - International Cooperation
13. Support acknowledgement by governments, government entities and society as a whole rating discrimination based on sexual preference as a violation of the fundamental rights and freedoms guaranteed by the Brazilian Constitution as well as international human rights treaties and conventions. Consequently, through the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Special Human Rights Bureau and other pertinent entities, the Brazilian Government will take the necessary steps to ensure that this issue ranks high on the mechanism agenda for the human rights protection systems drawn up by the United Nations and the Organization of American States. 14. Build up links and organize discussions in order to create tools protecting sexual and reproductive rights under the aegis of the Mercosur Institutions and the Organization of American States. To do so, intensive efforts are needed to build up support among other nations in the Americas for initiatives in this field, in permanent consultation with civil society.
15. Support initiatives focused on establishing regulatory mechanisms ensuring acknowledgment of citizenship and permanent residency in Brazil for foreigners who are the partners of Brazilian homosexuals, while also respecting the rights and obligations arising from matrimony-equivalent ceremonies in countries already endowed with legislations that permit civil unions between persons of the same gender.
16. Support the introduction of the Inter-American Convention on Sexual and Reproductive Rights, in permanent consultation with civil society.
17. Support peer-to-peer technical cooperation with countries implementing policies designed to ensure human rights and combat violence and discrimination against gays, lesbians, transvestites, transgenders and bisexuals as part of the activities undertaken by the Brazilian Government to prepare, implement and assist the government policies defined in this Program, developing the technical tools required to cooperate with countries with which Brazil has diplomatic relations and whose policies are rated as significant on this issue.
IV - Right to Safety and Security: Combating Violence and Impunity
18. Support the establishment of technical tools for drawing up guidelines, recommendation and lines of support through the National Security Plan and other programs for the State Public Security Bureaus and Municipal entities in the urban safety and security area, in order to plan actions designed to combat impunity and prevent violence against gays, lesbians, transvestites, transsexuals, transgenders and bisexuals.
19. Encourage development and support for the implementation of Government policies designed to built up the capacities and improve the qualifications of law enforcement officers for providing shelter, assistance and investigations on non-discriminatory bases; including classes on sexual preference and combating homophobia in the training syllabus of the Municipal Guard and Police Forces, included under the main topic of human rights; and registering and classifying crimes of homophobia in order to build up a criminal literature on this topic.
20. Support the establishment of Centers of Reference against Discrimination within the structure of Public Security Bureaus, providing shelter, guidance, support, referrals and investigation of violence against homosexuals.
21. Create technical tools to diagnose and assess situations violating the human rights of homosexuals and witnesses of crimes related to sexual preference in order to survey the various types of violation, the classification and context of the crimes, perpetrator profiles and victimization levels, in order to ensure that GLTTB victims are properly referred to assistance and protection services.
22. Propose the establishment of a technical chamber to diagnose, prepare and assess the implementation of safety and security policies for the area in question.
V - The Right to Education: promoting the values of respect for peace and non-discrimination based on sexual preferences
23. Draw up guidelines for the Education Systems, implementing actions proving respect for citizens and non-discrimination, encouraging and supporting initial and ongoing teacher training courses in the field of sexuality. . Set up multidisciplinary teams to assess textbooks, in order to eliminate discriminatory aspects based on sexual preference, helping eradicate homophobia, encouraging the production of educational materials (films, videos and publications) on sexual preferences and eliminating homophobia.
. Support and disseminate the production of specific teacher training material.
. Disclose scientific information on human sexuality.
. Encourage research and the dissemination of knowledge helping combat violence and discrimination against the GLTTB segment of the population.
. Establish the Subcommittee on Education and Human Rights under the Ministry of Education, with the participation of homosexual movements, in order to oversee and assess the resulting guidelines.
VI - Right to Healthcare: consolidating equal treatment
24. Formally establish the Technical Committee on Healthcare for the Gay, Lesbian, Transvestite, Transgender and Bisexual segment under the Ministry of Health, in order to structure a National Health Policy for this population group. The working agenda of this Committee will consider, among other matters, proposals submitted by the homosexual movement highlighting: i) special attention to the health of lesbian women at all stages of life; ii) attention to homosexuals victimized by violence, including sexual violence; iii) attention to the health of imprisoned homosexuals; iv) promotion of healthcare through educational activities targeting the GLTTB segment of the population; v) establishing partnerships and encouraging the participation of GLTTB users and the organized movement in defining specific healthcare policies for this segment of the population; vi) discussions on updating protocols related to sex change surgery; vii) attention to the mental health of this segment of the population.
25. Support the implementation of conditions to produce and access scientific knowledge on health and other aspects of the GLTTB segment of the population through:
. Development of strategies to prepare and implement studies designed to obtain indicators for the social and health of the GLTTB segment of the population.
. Establishment of Information Centers (Observatories) able to manage healthcare studies about and for the GLTTB segment of the population, empowered to process, analyze and disseminate information of this type.
. Establish channels for disseminating scientific information on health and healthcare, existing and produced.
. Establishing a channel serving as an Ombudsperson’s Office through the Healthcare Hotline (Disque-Saúde) run by the Ministry of Health, in order to receive and refer allegations of situations of discrimination occurring in the healthcare network.
26. Support investments in training, capacity-building, awareness-heightening and promotion of changes in attitude among healthcare practitioners when assisting the GLTTB segment of the population, striving to ensure equal access through respect for differences in sexual preferences, understanding and accepting the specific healthcare requirements of this segment of the population. VII - Right to work: ensuring an access policy and promoting non-discrimination based on sexual preference
27. In partnership with the Ministry of Labor, urge the implementation of policies designed to combat discrimination against gays, lesbians, transvestites, transgenders and bisexuals in the work-place.
28. Support and strengthen the network of Centers for Combating Discrimination in the work-place run by the Regional Labor Bureaus under the Ministry of Labor.
29. Support networking with the Ministry of Labor for implementing policies designed to combat discrimination at the work-place, including current affirmative action policy programs, such as the Gender, Race, Poverty, Employment (GRPE) Program and work inspections, combating discrimination against gays, lesbians, transvestites, transgenders and bisexuals, as well as policies ensuring access to jobs, work and income.
30. In partnership with the Ministry of Labor, implement awareness-heightening programs among government administrators, strengthening the importance of vocational qualifications for gays, lesbians, transvestites, transsexuals, transgenders and bisexuals, in the various segments of the world of work, helping eradicate discrimination.
VIII - Right to Culture: constructing a policy underpinning the Culture of Peace and values promoting human diversity
31. Support the establishment of a working group to draw up a plan designed to promote, encourage and support artistic and cultural output fostering culture and non-discrimination based sexual preference. 32. Support the production of cultural assets and mass market events that heighten the visibility of affirming sexual preferences and the culture of peace.
33. Encourage and support the distribution, circulation and access to cultural goods and assets on topics linked to combating homophobia and promoting citizenship for gays, lesbians, transvestites, transgenders and bisexuals.
34. Implement actions designed to diagnose, assess and foster the preservation of cultural, social and economic values arising from the participation of the homosexual segment of the Brazilian population in the development process, based on its history and culture.
35. Implement capacity-building activities for cultural policy players, underscoring the topic of combating homophobia and the affirmation of sexual preferences by gays, lesbians, transvestites, transgenders and bisexuals.
36. Network with State and Municipal cultural entities in order to promote activities focused on combating homophobia and promoting citizenship for gays, lesbians, transvestites, transgenders and bisexuals.
IX - Policy for Youth
37. Support studies and research projects focused on the rights and the social and economic situation of gay, lesbian, transvestite, transgender and bisexual adolescents, in partnership with international cooperation agencies and organized civil societies.
38. Support the implementation of projects designed to prevent discrimination and homophobia in schools, in partnership with international cooperation agencies and organized civil societies. 39. Build up the capacities of professionals working in homes and shelters providing support for young people, on topics linked to sexual preference and combating discrimination violence against homosexuals in partnership with international cooperation agencies and organized civil society.
X - Policy for women
40. Establish reference centers for women in situations of violence, including lesbians.
41. Regularly assess the performance of the Specialized Women’s Precincts (DEAM - Delegacias Especializadas da Mulher) in terms of assisting lesbian women.
42. Provide capacity-building classes for professionals working in government institutions involved in combating violence against women.
43. Support studies and research into gender relations and the status of women, focused on sexual preferences.
44. Establish a data system on the status of women, ensuring a specific focus on sexual preferences.
45. Encourage the organization of political events for women, encouraging exchanges of studies, data, experiences and laws for women in Latin American and more particularly in the Mercosur, including discrimination against lesbian women.
46. Ensure the construction of a cross-gender approach in government policies, including sexual preferences. 47. Monitor International Pacts, Agreements, Conventions and Protocols on eliminating discrimination against women, ensuring that sexual preferences are addressed.
48. Extend the Women’s Hot Line (Disque-Mulher) service, ensuring information and non-discriminatory attendance for lesbians.
XI - Policy against racism and homophobia
49. Support studies and research projects focused on multiple discrimination caused by racism, homophobia and gender prejudice.
50. Establish technical tools for diagnosing and assessing multiple types of discrimination combined with racism, homophobia and gender prejudice.
51. Monitor international Pacts, Agreements, Conventions and Protocols designed to eliminate racism and discrimination, ensuring that sexual preferences are addressed.
52. Encourage the implementation of actions under the aegis of the Federal Civil Service and civil society, designed to combat homophobia and ensuring that race, ethnic roots and gender are addressed.
53. Support the preparation of a common agenda drawn up by the black and homosexual movements, organizing seminars, meetings and workshops on the topics of racism and homophobia. Implementation of the Program
The Brazil without Homophobia Program fairly broad-ranging, defining the players for its implementation as the public sector, private sector and Brazilian society as a whole, as entities able to work together in the struggle against discrimination based on sexual preference. Although the entity responsible for drawing up, implementing and assessing this Program is the Special Human Rights Bureau under the Brazilian Presidency, the responsibility for combating homophobia and promoting the citizenship of gays, lesbians, transvestites, transsexuals, transgenders and bisexuals extends to include all Federal, State and Municipal government entities as well as Brazilian society as a whole. Consequently, the Brazil without Homophobia Program presents a set of actions designed to foster respect for sexual diversity and combat many different ways of violating the human rights of gays, lesbians, transvestites, transsexuals, transgenders and bisexuals. Consequently, this Program involves Federal Ministries and Bureaus that are currently involved in implementing, its actions while also agreeing to establish and maintain an inclusionary policy for homosexuals, fostering a context of acceptance and respect for diversity, while combating homophobia and altering the conduct of Brazilian society towards gays, lesbians, transvestites, transsexuals, transgenders and bisexuals. The preparation of the Brazil without Homophobia Program is directly supported by representatives of this segment, ensuring the representation of gays, lesbians, transvestites, transsexuals, transgenders and bisexuals during its implementation through partnership with leaders, social movements and civil society organizations. This will ensure the feasibility of the tools imposing social controls through overseeing the assessment of the many different actions constituting this Program.
Monitoring and Assessment One of the main parallel gains of the Brazil without Homophobia Program is the definition of indicators that allow a systematic official assessment of the status of Brazilian homosexuals, victims of homophobia in every area. Based on these indicators, which will be defined at a later date, the actions planned through this Program will be systematically monitored and assessed. The National Anti-Discrimination Council will play a leading role in this process, as it represents Brazilian society as a whole and is in charge of controlling the actions designed to foster equality and eliminate discrimination of all types, including discrimination based on sexual preferences. Annual assessments are planned for the Brazil without Homophobia Program. At the end of the second year, an assessment procedure will be implemented involving organizations set up to protect homosexual and human rights. Working closely with the Brazilian Government, this will define the bases for its continuation. Frequently Asked Questions
What is the difference between sex and sexuality? Today, the word “sex” is used with two different meanings: one refers to gender and defines whether a person is considered as being male or female; the other refers to the physical aspects of sexual intercourse. Sexuality transcends the boundaries of the sex act and includes feelings, fantasies, desires, sensations and interpretations.
What is sexual identity? This is a set of sexual characteristics that distinguishes each person from everyone else, expressed through sexual preferences, feelings or attitudes towards sex or gender. Sexual identity is the feeling of masculinity or femininity that accompanies a person throughout their life, which does not always follow biological gender or comply with the genitalia of the individual.
What is sexual preference? Sexual preference is the affective and/or sexual attraction felt by one person for another. Sexual preference exists within a continuum that varies from exclusive homosexuality to exclusive heterosexuality and includes various types of bisexuality. Although we have the possibility of choosing whether or not to display our feelings, psychologists do not consider sexual preference to be a conscious choice that can be altered through an act of will.
What is homosexuality? Homosexuality is the affective and sexual attraction felt for a person of the same gender. Just as heterosexuality (attraction for a person of the opposite gender) is quite inexplicable, homosexuality has no explanation. It depends on the sexual preference of each individual person. This is why the International Classification of Diseases (ICD) has not included homosexuality as a disease since 1993. Classification of Homosexuality by sexual behavior and/or sexual identity
MSM: this acronym means Men who have Sex with Men, used mainly by healthcare practitioners in the field of epidemiology to refer to men who have sexual intercourse with other men, regardless of whether or not the latter are identified as homosexuals.
Homosexuals: persons whose sexual and affective preferences focus on persons of the same gender.
Gays: individuals who have affective and sexual relationships with persons of the same gender, with lifestyles tailored to this preference, expressing their sexuality openly in their life.
Bisexuals: persons who have sexual and/or affective relationships with persons of either gender. Some openly accept this facet of their sexuality, while other keeps their sexual behavior hidden.
Lesbians: word used to describe female homosexuals.
Transgenders: word encompassing transvestites and transsexuals, for people who are men in the physiological sense but relate to the world as women.9
9 See Guia de Prevenção das DST/AIDS para Homossexuais, PN-DST/AIDS Transsexuals: people who do not accept their anatomical gender. As psychological aspects prevail in transsexuality, the person identifies with the opposite gender, despite internal and external genitalia belonging to the other gender. Acknowledgments
National Anti-Discrimination Council Provisional Working Group (Comissão Provisória de Trabalho do Conselho Nacional de Combate à Discriminação: Janaina Dutra (in memoriam) Claudio Nascimento Silva Ivair Augusto A. Santos Yone Lindgren Beth Fernandes Mirian G. Medeiros Weber Oswaldo Braga Jr.
Organizations and participants of the Provisional Working Committee Meeting at the Ministry of Justice, on December 7 and 8 2003 Adamor Guedes Alexandre Boer Beth Fernandes Beto de Jesus Caio Fabio Varela Claudio Nascimento Silva Eduardo Piza Gomes de Mello Francisco Pedrosa Herbert Borges Paes de Barros Ivair Augusto A. Santos Leo Mendes Luciano Bezerra Vieira Marcelo Cerqueira Marcelo Nascimento Marcus Lemos Melissa Navarro Miriam B. B. Correa Mirian G. Medeiros Weber Oswaldo Braga Jr. Silene Hirata Toni Reis Welton D. Trindade Wilson Dantas Yone Lindgren
Brazilian Entities: Brazilian Association of gays, lesbians, and transgenders (ABGLT - Associação Brasileira de Gays, Lésbicas e Transgêneros ) National Transgenders’ Association (ANTRA - Articulação Nacional de Transgêneros) National Lesbians Association (Articulação Brasileira de Lésbicas)
State Entities: Homossexual Awareness Group - Rio de Janeiro (Arco-iris — Grupo de Conscientizacdo Homossexual/RJ ) Gays, Lesbians, and Transvestites Amazon Association (AAGLT - Associação Amazonense de Gays, Lésbicas e Travestis - AM) Gays, Lesbians, and Transvestites Association from Goiania (AGLT - Associação Goiana de Gays, Lésbicas e Travestis - GO) Transgenders Association from Goiania (Associação Goiana de Transgêneros/GO Homossexual Group from Brasilia ( Estruturação - Grupo Homossexual de Brasília/DE Dignity Group for Gays, Lesbians and Transgenders Citizenship (Grupo Dignidade — Pela Cidadania de Gays, Lésbicas e Transgêneros/PR Gay Group from Bahia (GGB - Grupo Gay da Bahia /BA) Gay Group from Alagoas (GGAL - Grupo Gay de Alagoas/AL Habeas Corpus Group from Rio Grande do Norte State (GHAP - Grupo Habeas Corpus de Potiguar/RN) White Wing Resistance Group (GRAB - Grupo de Resistência Asa Branca) Sornos Group (Grupo Sornos/RS) Edson Neris Institute (IEN - Instituto Edson Neris /SP) Lesbian Group from Rio Grande do Sul (LEGAU - Lésbicas Gaúchas/RS Ellas Movement (Movimento D'Ellas/RJ Lilac Spirit Movement (MEL - Movimento do Espírito Lilás/PB) Gay Movement from Minas Gerais - (MGM - Movimento Gay de Minas /MG)
Advisors: André Luis de Figueiredo Lázaro - Continuous Education, Literacy and Diversity Secretariat of the Ministry of Education Andre Saboya - Foreign Relations Ministry Ane Rosenir Teixeira da Cruz - Special Women’s Policies Bureau under the Presidency Office Cristiane Gonsalves Meireles da Silva - Nation Program for STD/AIDS - Ministry of Health Cristina Gross Vilanova - National Secretariat for Public Safety - Ministry of Justice David Harrad - Dignity Grou (Grupo Dignidade) Denise Paiva - Subsecretariat for Promoting Adolescents and Children’s Rights (SEDH - Subsecretaria de Promoção dos Direitos da Criança e do Adolescente) Eunice Lea de Moraes - Public Policies for Employment Secretariat - Ministry of Labor (Secretaria de Políticas Publicas de Emprego/SPPE/Ministério do Trabalho e Emprego) Fauze Martins Chequer - Human Rights Political Articulation Subsecretariat (SEDH - Articulação da Política de Direitos Humanos) Hugo Nister Pessoa - National Anti-Discrimination Council (SEDH- Conselho Nacional de Combate à Discriminação) Joelma Cezario dos Santos - Homosexual Group from Brasilia (Estruturação/Grupo Homossexual de Brasília) Jose Eduardo Andrade - Advisor/SEDH Julio Hector Marin - Chief of Staff /SEDH Karen Bruck de Freitas - STD/AIDS National Program - Ministry of Health (Programa Nacional de DST/Aids do Ministério da Saúde) Lilia Maia - National Anti-Discrimination Council (SEDH- Conselho Nacional de Combate à Discriminação) Lilia Rossi - STD/AIDS National Program - Ministry of Health (Programa Nacional de DST/Aids do Ministério da Saúde) Luiz Mott - Professor at Bahia’s Federal University - DIrector of the Bahia’s Gay Group (Professor Titular da Universidade Federal da Bahia Diretor do Grupo Gay da Bahia) Marcio Caetano - Coordinator of the University Affairs - Arco-Íris Group - Federal University of the State of Rio de Janeiro (Coordenador de Assuntos Acadêmicos do Grupo Arco-Íris/Universidade Federal Fluminense) Marco Aurelio Trocado Paes - Legislative Advisor for the Arco-Íris Group (Assessoria Legislativa do Grupo Arco-Íris) Maria Aparecida Guggel - Prosecutor for the Public Ministry of Labor (Subprocuradora do Ministério Público do Trabalho) Maria Eliane Menezes - Federal Prosecutor’s Office in charge of Citizens’ Human Rights (Procuradoria Federal dos Direitos do Cidadão do Ministério Público Federal) Maria Ines da Silva Barbosa – Deputy-Secretary for the Special Secretariat on Promotion of Racial Equal Rights, under the Presidency of the Republic Office (SEPPIR - Secretária-Adjunta da Secretaria Especial de Políticas de Promoção da Igualdade Racial da Presidência da Republica) Mario Mamede Filho – Deputy-Secretary (SEDH - Secretario-Adjunto) Milton Santos Silva – Homossexual Group from Brasilia ( Estruturação - Grupo Homossexual de Brasília) Paulo Carvalho – Advisor to the Executive Secretariat - Ministry of Health (Assessor da Secretaria Executiva do Ministério da Saúde) Perly Cipriano – Subsecretary for Human RightsPromotion (SEDH - Subsecretário de Promoção dos Direitos Humanos) Ricardo Balestreri – National Secretariat for Public Safety - Ministry of Justice (Secretaria Nacional de Segurança Pública /Ministério da Justiça) Rita de Cassia Lima Andrea – National Secretariat for Public Safety - Ministry of Justice (Secretaria Nacional de Segurança Pública /Ministério da Justiça) Roberto Brant – Deputy Director of the STD/AIDS National Program - Ministry of Health (Diretor Adjunto do Programa Nacional de DST/Aids do Ministério da Saúde) Rosa Maria Rodrigues de Oliveira – STD/AIDS National Program - Ministry of Health (Programa Nacional de DST/Aids do Ministério da Saúde) Patricia Diez Rios – STD/AIDS National Program - Ministry of Health (Programa Nacional de DST/Aids do Ministério da Saúde) Sergio Carrara – Latin-American Center for Sexuality and Human Rights - Rio de Janeiro University (Centro Latino-Americano de Direitos Humanos e Sexualidade do IMS da Universidade do Estado do Rio de Janeiro) Sidney Souza Costa – National Anti-Discrimination Council (SEDH - Conselho Nacional de Combate à Discriminação) Silvia Ramos – Center for Studies on Security and Citizenship - Candido Mendes Univesity (Centro de Estudos de Segurança e Cidadania da.. Universidade Candido Mendes) Toni Reis – Secretary-General of the Brazilian Association of gays, lesbians, and transgenders (ABGLT - Associação Brasileira de Gays, Lésbicas e Transgêneros ) Valeria Lavares Rabelo – Office of the Press (SEDH - Assessoria de Comunicação) Vera Regina Muller - STD/AIDS National Program - Ministry of Health (Programa Nacional de DST/Aids do Ministério da Saúde)
Text Organization and Review: Claudio Nascimento Silva – Member of the National Anti-Discrimination Council (SEDH - Conselho Nacional de Combate à Discriminação) and Secretary of Human Rights of the Brazilian Association of gays, lesbians, and transgenders (ABGLT - Associação Brasileira de Gays, Lésbicas e Transgêneros ) Ivair Augusto Alves dos Santos – Executive Secretary to the National Anti-Discrimination Council (SEDH - Conselho Nacional de Combate à Discriminação) under the Presidency Office (Secretário-Executivo do Conselho Nacional de Combate a Discriminação/SEDH – Presidência da Republica Glossary:
GLTB – gays, lesbians, transgenders, and bisexuals ABGLT – Brazilian Association of gays, lesbians, and transgenders AIDS – Acquired Immuno-deficiency Syndrome ARV – Anti-Retro Virals ASICAL – Latin-American Holistic Health and Citizenship Association DST – Sexually transmitted disease CNDC – National Anti-Discrimination Council EBGLT – Brazilian Association of Gays, Lesbians and Transgenders GBLTT – Gays, Lesbians, Transvestites, Transgenders and Transsexuals HIV – Human Immunodeficiency Virus MSM: Men who have Sex with Men MJ – Ministry of Justice MinC – Ministry of Culture MEC – Ministry of Education MTE – Ministry of Labor MRE – Ministry of Foreign Relations MHB – Brazilian Homosexual Movement MS – Ministry of Health OAS – Organization of the American States WHO – World Health Organization NGO – non-governmental organizations OPAS – Organizacao Pan-Americana da Sande PN-DST/Aids – STD/AIDS National Program - Brazilian Ministry of Health SEDH/PR – Special Secretariat for Promoting Human Rights - Presidency Office SPM/PR — Special Secretariat for Women’s Policies - Presidency Office SEPPIR/PR — Special Secretariat for Promoting Racial Equality - Presidency Office IDU - Injectable Drug Users UNAIDS — Joint United Nations Program on HIV/AIDS UNESCO — United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization USAID — United States Agency for International Development