{"id":35682,"date":"2017-09-28T00:00:00","date_gmt":"2017-09-28T05:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/ready-for-feedback3.com\/shape-history\/fmr\/rodrigues-sala-desiqueira\/"},"modified":"2025-03-17T08:41:07","modified_gmt":"2025-03-17T13:41:07","slug":"rodrigues-sala-desiqueira","status":"publish","type":"fmr_content","link":"https:\/\/www.fmreview.org\/es\/latinamerica-caribbean\/rodrigues-sala-desiqueira\/","title":{"rendered":"Visas and qualifications: Syrian refugees in Brazil"},"content":{"rendered":"

Syrians fleeing conflict in their country began arriving in Brazil in 2010 but it was only from 2012 onwards that Syrian asylum applications increased in the country. This increase led Brazil\u2019s National Committee for Refugees (CONARE) to approve Resolution 17\/2013,[1]<\/a> which established a special humanitarian visa to be granted to Syrians affected by the conflict. The resolution allowed Brazilian diplomatic missions to issue humanitarian visas to Syrians before their entry into Brazil,[2]<\/a> and afterwards permitted these applicants to apply for asylum via a \u2018fast-track\u2019 procedure. In 2015, CONARE renewed the resolution for a further two years and also signed a cooperation agreement with UNHCR, the UN Refugee Agency, to allow it to support and facilitate identification and visa procedures carried out by Brazilian embassies in countries neighbouring Syria.[3]<\/a> In September 2017 this resolution was renewed again, for two further years. Another important initiative was CONARE\u2019s agreement in February 2017 to resettle up to 20 unaccompanied Syrian children, a measure also approved by UNHCR.<\/p>\n

There are now more than 2,000 Syrians refugees living in Brazil and in 2016 Syrians were the single largest national group to be granted asylum by CONARE.[4]<\/a> This measure of granting humanitarian visas has now been incorporated into Brazil\u2019s new migration law of 2017 (Law 13,445), and it is hoped that the availability of this type of visa will be incorporated into other Latin American countries\u2019 refugee policies as well.[5]<\/a><\/p>\n

Although Syrian refugees can access the Bolsa-Fam\u00edlia Program, Brazil\u2019s federal income transfer programme,  preliminary research conducted with Syrian refugees in S\u00e3o Paulo suggests that the principal \u2013 sometimes only \u2013 help they receive is with documentation, and that they are in need of wider assistance with work, language, housing and the recognition of qualifications.[6]<\/a> Most adult Syrian refugees who have recently arrived in Brazil have had a tertiary-level education, thanks to Syria\u2019s formerly strong education system. Although some Syrians are working successfully as entrepreneurs in small businesses, mainly in the food sector, one of the challenges they face is recognition of their qualifications and the ability to exercise their professions. For refugees with unrecognised qualifications, the solution is, in many cases, to take jobs that require fewer skills and are lower paid than those they are qualified to do.<\/p>\n

Brazil\u2019s 1997 Refugee Act states that universities and other educational institutions should facilitate the recognition of refugees\u2019 qualifications, and some universities \u2013 such as those involved with the UNHCR initiative S\u00e9rgio Vieira de Mello Academic Chair \u2013 try to implement this policy. Even in these institutions, however, there can be opposition. This occurs partly because Brazilian universities are unused to foreign students, and partly due to an elitist mind-set whereby only those qualifications obtained from elite universities are recognised.<\/p>\n

While progress is slow, the qualifications of Syrians and other refugees are starting to be recognised, although it remains difficult to obtain authorisation to exercise professions, particularly in fields such as law and medicine. Universities and NGOs have made efforts to support Syrian refugees in their access to appropriate opportunities, including offering free Portuguese courses as insufficient grasp of the language is a considerable obstacle to obtaining better jobs. The Brazilian government has taken steps towards providing validation of tertiary qualifications obtained outside Brazil, and accepting partial documentation and\/or results from exams conducted by Brazilian universities to certify level of knowledge as proof of studies.<\/p>\n

Brazil\u2019s initiative in welcoming Syrian refugees is partly related to its historical and cultural links with Syria and Lebanon and partly to the humanitarian role that Brazil has played in Latin America since the passing of its 1997 Refugee Act. The country\u2019s introduction of humanitarian visas and its work on validating refugees\u2019 qualifications have overall been positive developments; it remains to be seen, however, how the country will continue to develop its policies as more refugees arrive, and how its actions might advance policy for refugees elsewhere in the region.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Gilberto M A Rodrigues gilberto.rodrigues@ufabc.edu.br<\/em><\/a>
\nMember<\/p>\n

Jos\u00e9 Blanes Sala blanes@ufabc.edu.br<\/em><\/a>
\nMember<\/p>\n

D\u00e9bora Corr\u00eaa de Siqueira dheborah.siqueira@gmail.com<\/em><\/a>
\nPhD candidate and voluntary aide<\/p>\n

S\u00e9rgio Vieira de Mello Academic Chair, Federal University of ABC (UFABC)  http:\/\/ufabc.edu.br\/en\/refugee-services\/<\/a><\/p>\n

\n
\n
\n

[1]<\/a> National Legislative Bodies \/ National Authorities, Brazil (2013) Normative Resolution No 17 of 20 September 2013 www.refworld.org\/cgi-bin\/texis\/vtx\/rwmain\/opendocpdf.pdf?reldoc=y&docid=54e72bb94<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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[2]<\/a> Humanitarian visas have been issued by Brazilian missions located in many countries but those missions located in the countries hosting the greatest number of displaced Syrians \u2013 Jordan, Lebanon, and Turkey \u2013 have issued a majority.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

\n

[3]<\/a> UNHCR (2016) The 10-Point Plan in Action, 2016 Update<\/em>. www.refworld.org\/docid\/583714a44.html<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>\n

\n

[4]<\/a> Minist\u00e9rio da Justi\u00e7a e Seguran\u00e7a P\u00fablica (2016) Ref\u00fagio em N\u00fameros<\/em> (Refuge in Numbers). www.acnur.org\/fileadmin\/scripts\/doc.php?file=fileadmin\/Documentos\/portugues\/Publicacoes\/2017\/refugio-em-numeros-2010-2016<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>\n

\n

[5]<\/a> See also Jubilut L L, Sombra Mui\u00f1os de Andrade C and de Lima Madureira A (2016) \u2018Humanitarian visas: building on Brazil’s experience\u2019, Forced Migration Review <\/em>issue 53 www.fmreview.org\/community-protection\/jubilut-andrade-madureira<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>\n

\n

[6]<\/a> Calegari M and Justino L (2016) \u2018Refugiados S\u00edrios em S\u00e3o Paulo: o direito \u00e0 integra\u00e7\u00e3o\u2019 www.nepo.unicamp.br\/publicacoes\/anais\/arquivos\/9_MC.pdf<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

 <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

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