WASHINGTON DC, USA – Brazil's week-old interim government is regressive and unequal, the Inter-American Commssion on Human Rights said in a statement Wednesday, May 18.
The body charged with protecting human rights in the Americas said interim Brazilian president's Michel Terner all-white male cabinet appointments fails to represent the country's population and will hinder prospects for unity in the politically volatile country.
"The designation of a cabinet of ministers that does not include any women or persons of African descent leaves more than half the population excluded from the highest government offices," the IACHR said.
Until now women have consistently served as ministers since Brazil emerged from military dictatorship in 1985.
Temer's center-right presidency began last week following the 180-day suspension of leftist President Dilma Rousseff, impeached on charges of breaking budget accounting laws.
When asked by journalists about the exclusively male 24-member cabinet, the president's chief of staff Eliseu Padilha said the government "tried to find women, but for reasons we don't need to bring up right now, we discussed and it wasn't possible."
The interim government additionally announced it would reduce funding for housing, education and poverty reduction programs, as well as eliminate the Ministry of Women, Racial Equality, and Human Rights, which became a sub-ministry of the Ministry of Justice.
White men represent 21.9% of Brazil's population, while women account for 51.4% and non-white men 26.7%.
Though she was not particularly known for her feminism, Rousseff -- Brazil's first female president -- did pass a law to protect women from violence and another that mandated universities accept a quota of black students. Her cabinets during both terms featured 15 female ministers. – Rappler.com