Actions to Benefit Brazilians Abroad

Between 2 and 6 May 2011, the first working meeting between the Office of the Undersecretary-General for Brazilian Communities Abroad (SGEB) and the Council of Representatives for Brazilians Abroad (CRBE) was held.  The main achievement of the meeting was the approval of an Action Plan for 2010-2012, which comprises around 100 joint activities aimed at meeting the demands of the Brazilian Diaspora.  The plan covers areas such as consular services and assistance; policies for expatriate communities; education; social security; labor; health; social services and human rights; culture and communication; economic affairs and science and technology.

Among the activities in the plan, the highlights are that Brazilian Worker Weeks are to be held in for different regions of the world, in collaboration with the Ministry of Labor and Employment; a pilot course to train Portuguese teachers abroad (USA); a new survey of the Brazilian community and its associations and an experimental project in Europe to elect members for a Council of Citizens.  There are also plans for the Ministry of Health to take part in a pilot project to assist Brazilian in border areas and for initiatives aimed at providing greater support to cultural activities, to the work of community media and to Brazilian entrepreneurs abroad.

Brazilian Government policy towards its citizens abroad has been improved in the past few years, through a series of initiatives to counter the phenomenon of increased Brazilian emigration.