Development of the National System for the Promotion of Racial Equality (SINAPIR) (BR0074)

to definitely institutionalize the policy for racial equality and for coping with racism throughout the country. The effectiveness of the policy shall be increased, which may lead to the improvement of the public services targeted at the black population.

Commitment 3.6. Development of the National System for the Promotion of Racial Equality (SINAPIR)

Commitment Text: To definitely institutionalize the policy for racial equality and for coping with racism throughout the country. The effectiveness of the policy shall be increased, which may lead to the improvement of the public services targeted at the black population.    

Responsible institution: Special Secretariat for the Promotion of Racial Equality

Supporting institution: None

Start date: Not specified                          End date: 14 December 2014

Commitment aim

This commitment is an extension of the Racial Equality Statute, and planned to institute the National System for Promoting Racial Equality (SINAPIR). The aim of SINAPIR was to institutionalise and strengthen policies of racial equality, and to distribute federal resources for this purpose.

Status

Midterm: Limited

Initial implementation of the SINAPIR was completed in 2014, after a consultation process between civil society and government. According to the government, over R$3 million were distributed to public entities that have racial equality policies. Given the vagueness of the commitment text, however, it was not clear which other milestones were necessary to achieve the overall objective, i.e., “to definitely institutionalize the policy for racial equality and for coping with racism throughout the country.”

End of term: Substantial

New government bodies have joined SINAPIR since the midterm assessment. By July 2016, 43 new entities had joined, and an additional 28 were in the process of joining.^{[Note 95: Seppir, Participating Entities in Sinapir, http://www.seppir.gov.br/articulacao/sinapir/AdesesaoSinapir.xls.   ]} Even so, the vagueness of the commitment text (i.e. the mention of a milestone that is difficult to measure, such as to “definitely institutionalize a policy for racial equality, instead of publishing a policy oriented to such aim”) makes it impossible to conclude that it was fully implemented during the period of the action plan. For example, it is unclear how many entities were expected to join the SINAPIR, or if the government intended to institutionalise racial equality policies in ways beyond the creation of the system.

Did it open government?

Access to information: Did not change

Civic participation: Marginal

Public accountability: Did not change

Even though the commitment (as written) was not relevant to open government, its implementation made an important, albeit marginal, contribution to open government. The SINAPIR included civic participation in conferences and councils at the national, district, state, and municipal levels. Furthermore, as part of the commitment, the federal government now prioritises federal budget distributions for racial equality to entities that have joined the SINAPIR, and established channels for participation. As such, it incentivises the creation and maintenance of mechanisms of civic participation in the national system for the promotion of racial equity.

Carried forward?

The commitment is not included in Brazil’s third action plan. If carried forward in the future, the IRM researcher advises the government to establish transparency data for the SINAPIR operations, and create accountability mechanisms to monitor distributed resources.