A recent study conducted by the Instituto Peregum in collaboration with the Fundação Tide Setubal reveals that Brazilian federal deputies have shown minimal engagement in the agenda of racial equality. The research evaluated over 37 thousand legislative actions involving 571 parliamentarians in the current legislative period (2023-2027) and highlighted a concerning trend regarding the lack of proactive efforts towards racial equality.

The study, the first of its kind, involved researchers from the Observatório do Legislativo Brasileiro (OLB) and the Grupo de Estudos Multidisciplinares de Ação Afirmativa (Gemaa) from the Universidade do Estado do Rio de Janeiro (Uerj). It utilized available data to compile a ranking of members of congress based on their involvement in legislative efforts related to racial equality, covering areas such as education, health care, and anti-racism initiatives. It specifically examined actions during the current legislative period, shedding light on the responsiveness of deputies towards pressing social issues.

Findings from the study indicate that only a small fraction of the registered actions were substantial efforts to promote racial equality, as reflected in the 37,089 activities studied, which includes 34,141 nominal votes and 2,406 speeches on the matter. The results underscore a critical gap in legislative focus that could hinder progress in addressing systemic racial inequalities in Brazil, suggesting a need for both public pressure and institutional changes to enhance engagement among federal deputies in this vital area.