The Cartagena Refugee Definition and Venezuelan Displacement in Latin America¹

Abstract

The displacement of Venezuelan citizens represents an important test for Latin American refugee policies. In mid‐2020, over 5 million people in need of international protection had left Venezuela, and there have been repeated calls for their recognition as refugees. Although fifteen countries in Latin America have included the refugee definition of the Cartagena Declaration into their domestic laws, only Mexico and Brazil have applied this definition to Venezuelan citizens. After a brief discussion of the history and scope of the Cartagena Declaration refugee definition and its incorporation into domestic legislation across Latin America, in this article, we provide a systematic legal analysis of its applicability to Venezuelan displacement. We conclude with policy recommendations and suggestions for further research.

Non-Discrimination and special protection for migrants and refugees

“…The situation in Venezuela would indeed fulfil three of the criteria –namely the first three–, with numerous scholars and international organizations confirming the applicability of the expanded definition to this displacement context (Berganza et al, 2020; Freier et al, 2020). Although 15 countries in the region have incorporated it in their domestic laws, its overall application has been sparse.…”

Política exterior colombiana y performatividad: ¿Un 'buen miembro' del Orden Internacional Liberal?

“…Varias voces locales sugerían cerrarse a la migración en ese momento, al ver en el proceso una amenaza (Aliaga et al, 2018). Otras tribunas reivindicaron la obligación legal del Estado colombiano de garantizar refugio a las personas que arribaban, bajo los criterios de la Declaración de Cartagena sobre Refugiados suscrita por Colombia (Freier et al, 2022). Con el fin de las negociaciones con las farc a finales de 2016, el gobierno colombiano pudo delinear con mayor autonomía un guion para posicionarse como un ente responsable ante sus obligaciones con el oil.…”

Refugee commodification: the diffusion of refugee rent-seeking in the Global South

“…We stand ready to enhance our engagement with international donors and financial institutions to mobilize additional resources for developmental projects with immediate bearing on youth susceptible to illegal migration in Egypt and elsewhere. (Gabr 2016) In South America, the Colombian government has been most successful at extracting funds from the international community to address the displacement of Venezuelans, who qualify as refugees under the Cartagena definition of refugee (Freier, Berganza, and Blouin 2020), by mimicking a similar discourse. 5 In 2018-2019, Colombia received uS$270 million for displaced Venezuelans, which represents almost 45% of the total $580 million the region had received four years into the crisis (Bahar and Dooley 2019).…”