Is Aruba providing sufficient protection to Venezuela asylum seekers? This report presents the findings of Amnesty International’s first research into the reality for Venezuelans seeking asylum in Aruba. Despite its obligations under international human rights treaties, Aruba faces significant challenges in providing adequate protection. This report highlights the lack of specific asylum legislation in Aruba, issues with immigration detention, and concerns over the treatment of Venezuelan asylum seekers, including children. It also explores the involvement of the Netherlands in assisting Aruba, particularly in deportation practices, raising concerns about potential violations of human rights principles. Despite improvements in the situation for asylum seekers in Aruba, Amnesty International remains deeply concerned about the overall treatment of Venezuelans seeking protection in Aruba
- Index Number
- EUR 35/8559/2024
- Pages
- 77
- Published in
- United Kingdom
Table of Contents
- CONTENTS 3
- GLOSSARY 5
- EXECUTIVE SUMMARY 7
- KEY RECOMMENDATIONS 10
- 1. METHODOLOGY 12
- 2. BACKGROUND 15
- 2.1 FLEEING THE CRISIS IN VENEZUELA 15
- 2.2 LEGAL ROUTES MADE DIFFICULT 17
- 2.3 NO PAPERS NO RIGHTS 19
- 3. LEGAL FOUNDATIONS OF PROTECTION FOR VENEZUELANS IN ARUBA 22
- 3.1 ARUBAS LEGAL FRAMEWORK 22
- 3.2 APPLYING FOR ASYLUM IN ARUBA 25
- 4. NO ASYLUM IN ARUBA 27
- 4.1 BARRIERS AND LACK OF INFORMATION 27
- 4.2 NO LEGAL ASSISTANCE 30
- 4.3 UNFAIR AND INEFFECTIVE PROCEDURES 30
- 5. UNLAWFUL DETENTION AND DEPORTATION 34
- 5.1 IMMIGRATION DETENTION IN ARUBA 34
- 5.2 ALTERNATIVES TO DETENTION 36
- 5.3 DETENTION VOLUNTARY RETURNS 38
- RAIDS UNDER THE RESEARCH TEAM 45
- 5.5 FORCED RETURNS 48
- 6. DISCRIMINATION AND XENOPHOBIA 51
- 7. VENEZUELAN CHILDREN SEEKING PROTECTION IN ARUBA 55
- 5.6 CHILDRENS RIGHTS 55
- 5.7 CHILDREN SEEKING ASYLUM IN ARUBA 57
- 8. OBLIGATIONS OF THE KINGDOM OF THE NETHERLANDS 60
- 8.1 THE KINGDOM OF THE NETHERLANDS 61
- 8.2 SAFEGUARDING HUMAN RIGHTS 62
- 8.3 APPLICABILITY OF INTERNATIONAL NORMS 63
- 8.4 ASSISTANCE FROM THE NETHERLANDS 64
- 8.5 PROTECTING VENEZUELANS IN ARUBA 69
- 9. CONCLUSIONS AND 72
- RECOMMENDATIONS 72
- 9.1 CONCLUSIONS 72
- 9.2 RECOMMENDATIONS 73
- AMNESTY INTERNATIONAL IS A GLOBAL MOVEMENT FOR HUMAN RIGHTS. WHEN INJUSTICE HAPPENS TO ONE PERSON IT MATTERS TO US ALL. 76
