For information on societal attitudes toward "mixed race" marriages in Brazil, please refer to BRA34717.E of 29 June 2000 and its attachments.

No reports of violence or state restrictions placed on marriages involving persons of different skin colour or of different nationalities could be found among the sources consulted by the Research Directorate.

One of those attachments states that "Brazil is often considered a 'racial democracy' because of the many interracial marriages" despite underlying discrimination (Latinamerica Press 29 Nov. 1999, 4). Another attachment cites a professor who teaches "a course on black self-esteem at the Black Community Development Council" as saying that "here intermarriage is natural," adding that "the children of these unions tend to identify with their European ancestry because society tells them everything African is bad" (AP 5 Feb. 2000).

This Response was prepared after researching publicly accessible information currently available to the Research Directorate within time constraints. This Response is not, and does not purport to be, conclusive as to the merit of any particular claim to refugee status or asylum. Please see below the list of additional sources consulted.

Associated Press (AP). 5 February 2000. Michael Astor. "Racism at Carnival Reveals Cracks in Brazil's Racial Democracy." (NEXIS)

Latinamerica Press [Lima]. 29 November 1999. "Afro-Brazilians Seek Justice, Equality."

Current History. 1998-May 2000.

IRB Databases.

Latin American Regional Reports: Brazil Report [London]. July 1998-May 2000.

Latinamerica Press. 1998-May 2000.

REFWORLD.

World News Connection (WNC).

Internet websites and search engines.