Brazil with Open Arms? - Challenges and Pathways to Refugee Protection
Nov 15, 2024 — 10 a.m. to 11:30 a.m.
The conference will explore the realities faced by refugees in Brazil, highlighting their diverse experiences and challenges. The speaker will share insights from her work with individuals seeking refuge, illustrating the complexities of navigating life in a new country, including barriers to accessing fundamental human rights. This context reflects the intricate regional dynamics and varied circumstances from which refugees come, emphasizing the interconnectedness of countries within the Global South. Additionally, the conference will outline the legal framework that supports refugee protection in Brazil, addressing the national context, the rights of refugees under Brazilian law, recent legislative advancements, and the country's obligations under international treaties. It will also examine recent regressive measures that may undermine the legal protections afforded to refugees, underscoring how these frameworks and challenges impact their safety and dignity. The conference will highlight the vital role of various stakeholders—including governmental bodies, NGOs, and local communities—in providing essential support for refugees.
Cintia Freitas
Cintia Freitas is a Professor at the Faculty of Law of the State University of Rio Grande do Norte (UERN) and member of the Justice Americas Platform. She is a PhD candidate in Human Rights at the State University of São Paulo (USP), conducting part of her doctoral research as a Visiting PhD Researcher at the University of Ottawa, focusing on the experiences of older people in refugee situations in Brazil and Canada. She holds a Master’s degree in Human Rights and Democratisation from the Global Campus of Human Rights (Italy) and the University of Graz (Austria), as well as a Bachelor’s degree in Law from São Paulo State University (UNESP). Previously, she served as one of UERN’s representatives on the State Intersectoral Committee for the Care of Refugees, Stateless Persons, and Migrants of Rio Grande do Norte State (CERAM). She has worked as a consultant at UNESCO headquarters in Paris and served as an Advisory Lawyer at the Reference and Assistance Centre for Immigrants (CRAI) in São Paulo (Brazil), where she provided legal guidance to migrants and individuals in refugee situations.