The United States and Brazil will hold a steering group meeting of the U.S.-Brazil Joint Action Plan to Eliminate Racial and Ethnic Discrimination and Promote Equality (Joint Action Plan) on July 18-19, 2013 in Brasilia.

Assistant Secretary of State for Western Hemisphere Affairs Roberta S. Jacobson will lead the U.S. Government delegation. Officials from the Departments of Education, Commerce, Justice, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, and Health and Human Services, in addition to officials from U.S. Embassy Brasilia, will also participate.

The government meetings and panel discussions will include members of civil society and will allow Brazilian and U.S. participants to address issues relating to the promotion of racial and ethnic equality in both countries. The primary goals of the meeting include seeking greater opportunities for access to education and expanding academic opportunities for students from disadvantaged backgrounds and historically underserved populations; eliminating racial health disparities in the United States and Brazil; mitigating environmental impacts in rural and urban communities of African descent; addressing challenges in the criminal justice system; and guaranteeing equal access to economic opportunities ahead of the 2014 World Cup and 2016 Olympic games. The meeting will also focus on accomplishments since the signing of the Joint Action Plan and will develop a plan of action for the next year.

The Joint Action Plan, signed in March 2008, pledges ongoing collaboration between the two governments to eliminate racial and ethnic discrimination and to promote equality of opportunity for all.

For more information, visit the Joint Action Plan website and follow it on Facebook.