Page 90 - IJPS-9-3

International Journal of

Population Studies

PERSPECTIVE ARTICLE
Refugees and refugee applicants’ voices in

Brazilian cities

Laís Gonzales de Oliveira*
Municipal Attorney of Nuporanga, State of São Paulo, graduated from Law School of Ribeirão Preto/
University of São Paulo, Brazil

Abstract
This paper provides an analysis of the struggles faced by refugees and refugee applicants
as they seek recognition and the effectiveness of their rights within Brazilian cities,
particularly focusing on full political participation at the municipal level. Employing
juridical-sociological research methods, including theoretical bibliographical research
and critical analysis, it is concluded that the formal recognition of the right to the city
holds significant relevance, serving both as a catalyst for the concrete realization of
these rights and as a means to affirm the identity of individuals involved. Although
the law may result in the maintenance of injustices, the institutionalized means of
participation should not be abandoned but reconstructed.

Keywords: Refugee; Citizenship; Right to the city; Political participation; Brazil

*Corresponding author: 1. Introduction
Laís Gonzales de Oliveira
(laisgooli@gmail.com) The selection of the subject for this paper stems from a concern regarding the phase that
Citation: de Oliveira, L.G. follows the arrival of individuals seeking refuge in Brazil. After studying and analyzing
(2023). Refugees and refugee the content, interpretation, and application of the principle of non-refoulement, especially
applicants’ voices in Brazilian cities.
International Journal of Population in the face of the imposition of border barriers by States that receive a constant flow
Studies, 9(3): 84-97. of immigrants, the concern has shifted to the phase following the reception of refuge
https://doi.org/10.36922/ijps.438
seekers in national territory. This transition brought about a sense of anguish regarding
Received: January 3, 2023 “what happens next?”
Accepted: August 25, 2023 Given the dual nature of Brazilian policy for refugees and refugee applicants (Moreira,
Published Online: September 21, 2010), it should be noted that Brazil is internationally recognized for the receptiveness
2023 of its foreign policy. Data from the National Committee for Refugees (CONARE)
Copyright: © 2023 Author(s). reveals that between 2011 and 2021, a total of 297,712 migrants sought asylum in Brazil,
This is an Open-Access article
distributed under the terms of the resulting in 60,011 formally recognized refugees by the end of 2021. In 2021 alone, 29,107
Creative Commons Attribution immigrants applied for asylum in Brazil, marking an increase of 208 requests compared
License, permitting distribution, and to 2020, when the country received 28,899 requests (Junger et al., 2022). Despite this
reproduction in any medium, which
provided that the original work is ease of access to Brazilian territory, a real “barrier” exists for those seeking refuge within
properly cited. the Brazilian State — considering the completeness of the services and opportunities
Publisher’s Note: AccScience offered — which would be the next phase, the reception of refugees. The structure of
Publishing remains neutral with Brazilian domestic policy reveals deficiencies in effectively guaranteeing the human
regard to jurisdictional claims in
published maps and institutional rights of these individuals, in general, and consequently, regarding their integration
affiliations. process (Moreira, 2010).

Volume 9 Issue 3 (2023) 84 https://doi.org/10.36922/ijps.438