CHALLENGES AND NEEDS OF REFUGEE AND MIGRANT CHILDREN AND ADOLESCENTS IN BRAZIL: ENSURING PROTECTION, ACCESS TO EDUCATION AND SOCIAL INTEGRATION.TÍTULO EM INGLÊS: SUBTÍTULO

Abstract

Access to formal education for children and adolescents is an example of a specific protection need mentioned highly by Venezuelan families in the north of the country. According to a needs assessment carried out in 2022, 18% of Venezuelan children are not enrolled in school. This percentage is higher in the states that receive the most Venezuelan migrants, such as Roraima and Amazonas (27%); it increases even more when we look at children living in temporary shelters (63%). Therefore, access to formal education, a fundamental right for the development of children and adolescents and for their integration into the host community, is not being met. The issue of education can be understood in two main ways: lack of places in public schools, due to increased demand; and complex enrollment processes, which create barriers for the migrant population. To gather and analyze the data, we used a qualitative method with a descriptive deductive approach. Qualitative studies focus on human experiences, allowing us to perceive the subjectivity that accompanies our society. The data is secondary, coming from institutions active in the context of responding to the intense migratory movement of Venezuelans on Brazil's northern border. The choice was made due to the active and constant work of these organizations in collecting and publishing data, such as the Interagency Coordination Platform for Refugees and Migrants from Venezuela (R4V), United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees, United Nations agencies and the Brazilian government.