UN rights chief highlights Brazil inequalities

The United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, Mary Robinson, on a visit to Brazil, has accused the government of allowing torture and other abuses to go unpunished.

Speaking after talks with the president, Fernando Henrique Cardoso, Mrs Robinson said torture, executions and child killings continued to be carried out with impunity, often with the knowledge or cooperation of the police.

But she said she was encouraged by what she called a willingness on the part of the Brazilian government to improve its human rights record.

In particular, she urged the authorities to reduce inequalities affecting black and native indian people, street children, women and prisoners. Correspondents say that despite significant improvements in Brazil's human rights record in recent years, major problems still remain.

From the newsroom of the BBC World Service