Fiocruz reaffirms commitment to equity, diversity and inclusion

Fiocruz has taken another important step towards strengthening and implementing institutional initiatives and policies in favor of ethnic-racial and gender equity, diversity and inclusion. On Tuesday and Wednesday (April 11th and 12th, 2023), the Foundation launched the Ethnic-Racial and Gender Equity Policy and presented to the internal community the new Coordination of Equity, Diversity, Inclusion and Affirmative Policies (Cedipa), established in March by the Presidency of Fiocruz. Recordings of the events are available on Fiocruz's YouTube channel, with translation into Libras (Brazilian Sign Language).

The acting president of Fiocruz, Mario Moreira, who was on an official trip abroad, recorded a video highlighting the importance of the initiatives. "Today's launch is another step in the maturing of our relations, so that we can also bring Fiocruz's premises of equity, democracy and health into our institutional life. Tackling all forms of violence and prejudice is urgent for the steadfast advocacy of human rights and appreciation of diversity."

Policy

The launch of the policy was attended by workers, students and representatives of the institution's groups and civil society organizations. For president Mario Moreira, the document will serve as a great reference for "promoting healthier, more respectful and fuller relations in the institution, by establishing principles, guidelines, standards, guidelines and responsibilities for the development of more equitable actions."

Organized by the Pro-Gender and Racial Equity Committee, the policy is the result of the participation of the internal community and different civil society institutions and organizations. "As an institution of the SUS (the Brazilian national public health system), ensuring welcoming, care and a safe and protective space for anyone here is fundamental. That is why we have spent the last two years building this policy with the highest degree of collaboration as possible," said journalist Marina Maria, who is part of the Committee's collegiate coordination.

The president of Fiocruz Workers' Union (Asfoc-SN), Mychelle Alves, highlighted the diversity of the institution. "This policy will mean that Fiocruz, in a few years, will not consist of only around 24% black people," she said. Mychelle referred to data from the General Coordination of People Management (Cogepe/Fiocruz), according to which only 23.3% of the institution's civil servants are black. White people represent 68.2%, yellow 1.5%, and indigenous 0.3%. She pointed out that although women are the majority in the institution, few hold senior positions.

The President's Chief of Staff, Juliano Lima, believes that the policy is also an act of external positioning, given Fiocruz's good reputation in society. "We need to be an example, a role model, of how an institution should be conducted concerning the issues we are addressing here today," he said.

Implementation of institutional policies

On Wednesday, a meeting promoted by the Presidency of Fiocruz presented the work of the new Coordination of Equity, Diversity, Inclusion and Affirmative Policies (Cedipa), established by Ordinance 259 of 31/3/23. Cedipa's coordinator, Hilda Gomes, shared some of her family history and her professional career at the Foundation.

"Even with my activism before joining Fiocruz, taking part in these groups, with different people, with different backgrounds and expectations, has given me a new lease of life," said Hilda, referring to the Accessibility and Inclusion of People with Disabilities and Pro-Gender and Racial Equity committees. Hilda said that Cedipa needs to be based on fostering reflection and promoting actions aimed at enhancing and strengthening the dimensions that involve tackling institutional racism, and gender-based violence, such as LGBTI+phobia and machismo, ableism and xenophobia, with an internal and external agenda.

The coordinator of Regional and National Integration Strategies, Zélia Profeta, recalled that the new coordination will act in an intersectional and cross-cutting way to all Fiocruz activities. "This is a coordination that radicalizes; it goes to the root, it is powerful, and that is the great feature of this policy [of Ethnic-Racial and Gender Equity] and of this coordination, which is to radicalize."

During the event, several representatives of committees, collectives and human rights activists supported the choice of Hilda Gomes, highlighting the Cedipa coordinator's participation and struggle for a more equal and equitable Fiocruz and society. "Although we have had an accessibility policy since 2019, we still have many challenges, and this coordination comes to act on our side, to strengthen the committee's struggle," said Carolina Sacramento, representative of Fiocruz's Committee for Accessibility and Inclusion of People with Disabilities.

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