WASHINGTON – U.S. Special Representative for Global Intergovernmental Affairs Reta Jo Lewis will travel to Brazil on August 20-24, 2012, and will be visiting the cities of Brasilia and Sao Paulo.

While in Brasilia, Special Representative Lewis will participate in a technical meeting of the U.S.-Brazil Joint Action Plan to Eliminate Racial and Ethnic Discrimination and Promote Equality (Joint Action Plan). The technical meeting will consist of working group sessions in which participants from U.S. and Brazilian Government agencies and civil society will solidify action strategies for each of the JAPER goals.

Special Representative Lewis will co-chair the Joint Action Plan Economic Opportunity Working Group. She will lead the discussion and evaluation of projects aimed at guaranteeing equal access to economic and employment opportunities, particularly with regard to preparations for the 2014 World Cup and 2016 Olympic and Paralympic Games.

Special Representative Lewis also will travel to Sao Paulo where she will meet with state and local officials, and academic and small business representatives to discuss the overall progress of U.S.-Brazil subnational engagement since the signing of the MOU to Support State and Local Cooperation earlier this year. In addition, Special Representative Lewis will discuss economic and education partnerships and social inclusion efforts in the context of the upcoming major global sporting events.