Brasilia, May 9 (teleSUR-RHC)-- Young Brazilians of African descent are 2.5 times more likely to be murdered than their white counterparts, according to a study released on Wednesday. The study found young African descendants are the “main victims” of violent crime nationwide. “The objective (of the study) was to assess the impact of racial inequality in youth vulnerability to violence,” said the Brasilia office of the U.N. Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO).

The “Youth Violence and Racial Inequality Vulnerability Index 2014” was produced by UNESCO and the Brazilian government, and relies on data on violent crime from between 2012 and 2014. The study determined young African-Brazilians are most at risk of violent crime in the state of Alagoas, while they are least at risk in Sao Paulo.

However, the report found the greatest racial disparity in homicide victims in Paraiba, where a young African-Brazilian is 13.4 times more likely to be murdered than a Caucasian from the same age group (12 to 29 years). The second highest racial disparity was in Pernambuco, where young African-Brazilian are nearly 12 times more likely to be murdered than young Caucasians.

Historically, Brazil has had high rates of homicide and violent crime. According to government figures, the country saw 56,337 homicides in 2012 – a murder rate of 29 per 100,000 people. In recent years violent crime levels in major cities like Rio de Janeiro have fallen, but stubbornly high levels still persist in much of the country's north.

However, the government of President Dilma Rousseff has vowed to crack down on violent crime and improve security. According to the Index Mundi, Brazil’s population is 48 percent Caucasian, 43.1 percent mixed white and Black, 7.6 percent Black, 1.1 percent Asian, and 0.4 percent indigenous.