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U.N.: Racism taints progress in Brazil

RIO DE JANEIRO, Nov. 13 (UPI) -- Indigenous groups and minorities in Brazil suffer serious discrimination, injustice and violence, a United Nations official said Friday.

Millions of indigenous peoples and Afro-Brazilians are "mired in poverty" and are denied basic services and employment opportunities, U.N. High Commissioner for Human Rights Navi Pillay said.

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Brazil's indigenous peoples "are not benefiting from the country's impressive economic progress, and are being held back by discrimination and indifference, chased out of their lands and into forced labor," Pillay said during a week-long visit to Brazil.

"Until that changes, it will hamper Brazil's progress on many other fronts."

The Brazilian congress passed a constitutional amendment this week to provide free education to children ages 4-17, a move lauded by Pillay.

"Many of Brazil's biggest problems are rooted in poverty and discrimination, and a truly universal secondary education system is essential if there is to be major improvement in these areas," she said.

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