[Congressional Record Volume 151, Number 71 (Wednesday, May 25, 2005)]
[Senate]
[Page S5918]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                              AFRO-LATINOS

  Mr. OBAMA. Mr. President, I rise today to bring attention to the 
situation of Afro-Latinos throughout Latin America, in the hopes that 
we can encourage more action on this issue. From Colombia to Brazil to 
the Dominican Republic to Ecuador, persons of African descent continue 
to experience racial discrimination and remain among the poorest and 
most marginalized groups in the entire region. While recent positive 
steps have been taken in some areas--for example, giving land titles to 
Afro-Colombians and passing explicit anti-discrimination legislation in 
Brazil--much work still needs to be done to ensure that this is the 
beginning of an ongoing process of reform, not the end.
  In places where civil conflict has taken hold, Afro-Latinos are much 
more likely to become victims of violence or refugees in their own 
countries. In many areas, Afro-Latinos are also subject to aggression 
by local police forces at far greater rates than those perceived to be 
white. Access to health services is another serious concern, and recent 
studies have shown that Afro-Latino communities are at greater risk of 
contracting HIV/AIDS.
  In the last Congress, there was not one mention in the Senate of the 
millions of Afro-Latinos who continue to experience this widespread 
discrimination and socioeconomic marginalization. Now is the time for 
more action on this issue, not less. Emerging civil society groups are 
growing stronger throughout many countries in Latin America, and this 
growth should be encouraged as it presents important opportunities for 
partnerships and collaboration. I look forward to working with my 
colleagues in the Senate and House on this critical concern in the 
coming months, and I believe that together we can and will make a 
difference.

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