Human Rights and Refugees essay
The current research proposal focuses on the analysis of the current situation in the refugee policy in Brazil compared to the general policies and practices applied to refugees internationally. The research proposal aims at the revelation of specificities of policies conducted by Brazil in relation to refugees and the integration of refugees into local communities in Brazil
2 Objectives of the local integration project
The major objectives of the local integration project is the integration of refugees arriving to the country, namely Brazil, into local communities, where they can start their normal social life.
Local integration as a durable solution combines three dimensions:
Firstly, it is a legal process, whereby refugees attain a wider range of rights in the host state.
Secondly, it is an economic process of establishing sustainable livelihoods and a standard of living comparable to the host community.
Thirdly, it is a social and cultural process of adaptation and acceptance that enables the refugees to contribute to the social life of the host country and live without fear of discrimination
3 Methodology
The current study will involve experts and professionals working in Brazilian government agencies, especially those responsible for immigration policies in Brazil. Experts involved in the study should have profound knowledge and understanding of refugee policies and practices at the international and local level, preferably with the experience of working in Brazil. Professionals working in government agencies should also be qualified and have sufficient experience to provide the competent information on the current refugee policies conducted by Brazil.
4 General observations in relation to integration of refugees in Brazil
4.1 National integration policy and international cooperation
The national integration policy is crucial for the integration of refugees into local communities. Countries are normally expected to integrate refugees, who are seeking asylum on their territories. The international cooperation is essential for effective refugees policies because refugees have to move internationally and, even if the target country refuses from providing them with the refugee status, the country should not expose their life and health or those of their relatives to threat extraditing them to their home countries.
4.2 Respect of refugees’ rights and access to information
The country conducting refugee policies should respect refugees’ rights and provide them with the access to information on their rights and liberties.
4.3 Language skills
As a rule, refugees have poor language skills and may need the assistance of interpreter to maintain their communication with the authorities. The further integration of refugees normally involves language courses and development of basic language skills to facilitate the integration of refugees into local communities.
4.4 Resettlement needs
Refugees face urgent resettlement needs because, as a rule, they arrive to the country, where they seek asylum without property and little, if any, money. In such a situation, the government or NGOs should provide refugees with assistance to help them resettle and start a new life in the new country.
5 Country specific analysis and recommendations to Brazil
5.1 Introduction
At the moment, Brazil is one of the target destinations for refugees in Latin America. A large part of refugees arriving to Brazil are of Latin America origin as they flee from wars, political prosecutions, and violation of their basic human rights in their home countries. However, as a rule, refugees flee to Brazil in search of asylum to save their life and health or those of their family members. Refugees also arrive from Africa and Asia.
5.2 Legislation and documents
Refugees should have travelling visas to travel to Brazil, where they can claim for asylum, while the decision on their status and further extradition or providing them with the refugee status is taken by the local authorities.
5.3 Educational qualifications of refugees
As a rule, the educational qualification of refugees arriving to Brazil is low. They are either semi- or low-qualified employees working in agricultural sector mainly, although there are cases when well-qualified refugees may flee to Brazil, especially in case of political repressions in their home countries.
5.4 Employment and employment services
Employment is a challenge for refugees in Brazil. As they have the low qualification they face the tight competition from the part of local employees. In addition, they may have poor language skills that deteriorates their competitive position in the labor market. Cultural differences between refugees and local communities can cause communication gaps. Therefore, they may have difficulties with employment and they need the assistance of employment services in Brazil.
5.5 Housing
Refugees face the housing problem because they have no real estate in Brazil and they do not have money to purchase or even hire dwelling. Hence, either the government or NGOs should provide them with the assistance to support for certain period until they get an opportunity to hire or buy their own dwelling.
5.6 Social benefits and pensions
Often, refugees are deprived of social benefits and pensions that Brazilian citizens can benefit from. In such situation, the government assistance and support from the part of NGOs becomes crucial for them.
5.7 Health
Similarly to social benefits, health care services are also costly and often unavailable to refugees because they cannot cover costs of health care services. Therefore they rely heavily on the government support and NGOs, which can assist them providing them with basic health care services.
5.8 Legal counseling and capacity of NGOs
As refugees seek for asylum in Brazil, they arrive to the country being unaware of specificities of the local legislation, especially refugee and immigration legislation. They are even unaware of their basic human rights and liberties, which they can exercise in Brazil. Hence, they need legal counseling and NGOs often provide them with such services.
5.9 Naturalization procedures/ citizenship
The naturalization procedures and obtaining of citizenship in Brazil is complex but easier compared to well-developed countries, such as the US or Canada, for instance. On the other hand, Brazil cannot always afford providing asylum for refugees because of the lack of financial resources and funding of refugee programs.
5.10 Local community relations
Refugees in Brazil may face problems with local communities because they are outsiders and they need time and efforts to adapt to the life in the new socio-cultural environment, while many local community members view refugees as rivals in gaining social benefits granted by the government and rivals in the local labor market. In addition, the lack of language competence and cultural differences may create communication gaps but the local population is basically tolerant to refugees and immigrants.
6 Conclusion
The current situation in Brazil needs the detailed study of refugee policies because refugees have multiple needs, which the local authorities and NGOs cannot always meet.
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