Hope for Refugees: Challenges in Reception and Integration of Unaccompanied Venezuelan Children in Brazil

Abstract

AbstractThis chapter aims to analyze the challenges that are required in the receiving and integration of unaccompanied minors at the Brazilian borders in the face of the Venezuelan migration crisis. Between August 2018 and December 2019, according to official numbers, more than 7000 children crossed the border into Brazil alone or accompanied by people who were not their legal guardians. Despite the institutional and legislative advances in the Brazilian system involving children and adolescents in a special migratory situation, there are still countless challenges to the assurance of their basic rights. These include documentation problems, overcrowding in institutional shelters and the lack of resources to accompany minors in other stages of the integration process in Brazilian territory. These multiply vulnerabilities such as difficulties in accessing basic services, recruitment to crime and exposure to human trafficking and child sexual exploitation. The legal and policy framework for emergency assistance provided to public agencies may not be sufficient for safe and sustainable integration of these unaccompanied minors. This warns us of the need for effective protection of fundamental rights guaranteed to all, including unaccompanied Venezuelan children during and after their reception on Brazilian borders.KeywordsUnaccompanied childrenBrazilian borderMigration crisisVenezuelanClinical sociological