"Light skin and fine features": what the panel said about Itamaraty officer

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Itamaraty, last week dismissed a chancery official after the hetero-identification panel failed her in the exam that would make her eligible to take up the position as a black or black candidate.

According to the panel's opinion, Flávia de Medeiros has "light skin tone, straight hair and fine facial features", which are not configured as "phenotypic traits inherent to black people".

Flávia took the competitive exam for the position in December 2023. However, in March 2024, Cebraspe (Brazilian Center for Research in Evaluation and Selection and Event Promotion) rejected her candidacy as a shareholder.

To CNN Brasil, she explained that she came to Brasília to participate in the process. According to the panel, the "video recorded on the spot" was reviewed "in detail".

Flávia stated that, for her, the rejection of her candidacy was a "shock": "I have understood myself this way all my life. I had already declared myself before in other selection processes, I was a Prouni scholarship holder also with the target audience of black and low-income people."

Understand the case
On Friday (22), the dismissal of Flávia Medeiros, who took office as Itamaraty chancery officer in April, was published in the DOU (Official Gazette of the Union).

Flávia had her candidacy rejected in March 2023. Soon after the racial panel's opinion, she filed an appeal both administratively and judicially.

The Federal Court favorably received the appeal presented by Flávia's defense, allowing her to continue participating in all stages of the selection process - which, according to the defense, also includes the inauguration and appointment phases.

However, the AGU (Attorney General of the Union) appealed the court decision. According to the organization, Flávia could not take office until the merits of the matter were judged. This way, even if the vacancy is maintained, she loses her position in practice.

Servant is dismissed by hetero-identification panel after taking office at Itamaraty | BEHIND THE SCENES

Source: CNN