Human Rights in 21st Century Brazil
featuring
Minister Nilmário Miranda,
Head of the Special Secretariat for Human Rights of Brazil
Wednesday, February 26, 2003
Room 100
12 noon
| Press Release |
Nilmario Miranda has been a relevant figure in the movement to defend and develop human rights in Brazil for many years. He has been involved with the PT (Workers Party) platform since its creation in the late 1970’s. When Brazil was ruled by a dictatorship, Miranda’s political rights were suspended and he was a political prisoner for more than three years. In1986, he was elected PT delegate to Minas Gerais State Assembly, and he has been elected to the Brazilian Congress in that role for three consecutive terms. Miranda was one of the congressmen responsible for the creation of the Parliamentary Commission of Human Rights and was elected as its first president in 1995. President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, following his election in October of 2002, appointed Miranda to head the newly-expanded Special Secretariat of Human Rights of Brazil. Mr. Miranda has been a present and distinguished voice in Brazil for the world peace and the solidarity with other nations, hardly working for the assurance of civil and political rights for all people. His militancy for the protection of the rights of women, children, discriminated races, indigenous nations, ethical minorities and homosexuals are promptly and effective against the pretentious impunity of those that practice violence and discriminations acts.
