WILLEMSTAD - The United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, Volker Türk, has called on the governments of Aruba and Curaçao to address the protection risks faced by Venezuelan migrants.
In a report presented on July 4th, the official refers to the situation that emerged at the end of 2022 with the gradual reopening of borders between Venezuela and neighboring countries, such as the former Dutch Antilles and Colombia.
Türk claims that while this decision represents significant progress that can yield positive results for the region, Venezuelan migrants "often travel under dangerous conditions and remain exposed to abuse and human rights violations at the border and on migration routes."
Percentage-wise
Regarding Aruba and Curaçao, the R4V platform, which brings together humanitarian aid organizations, determined in June that 17,000 people have left Venezuela for Aruba, and 14,000 for Curaçao. While these numbers are low compared to other countries, Venezuelans represent more than fifteen percent of the population on these islands in percentage terms.
This is the first reference made by the UN office to the Venezuelan migration problem.
Alejandro Oropeza, the Executive Director of the Observatory of the Venezuelan Diaspora, warned that despite the reopening, the mass of Venezuelan migrants is exposed to human rights violations, given that the host areas have limited resources in areas such as public services and jobs.
Oropeza states that it becomes more complicated because Aruba, Curaçao, and even Bonaire were islands that received significant benefits from the visits of Venezuelans.
"Then there was a closure to the possibilities of Venezuelans being there, which did not correspond to the contributions of Venezuelans to the development of these islands," he said.
According to Oropeza, it has been proven that migration processes bring benefits to the host countries, as they usually involve young people in productive ages.
He recommends "regulating the migration status" of Venezuelans residing on these islands so that they can move out of the informal sector and participate in the economy. This also requires regulating the consular relations between the islands and Venezuela.
Trade first
International expert Félix Arellano warned that the reopening of borders between Venezuela and the islands is primarily focused on trade aspects. According to him, mechanisms for filtering migrants (such as visas and police supervision) will remain in effect.
The reopening of the borders has reactivated trade between Venezuela and the islands. These islands will increase controls because they want to avoid the effects already felt in Colombia, Chile, Ecuador, and Peru. They will do everything to make the arrival not easy, he emphasized.
He pointed out that countries usually like to receive professional migrants, educated in their country of origin, who will contribute "human capital."
However, what Latin America has experienced in recent years is a diaspora resulting from the economic disaster in Venezuela, from a model that destroys opportunities.
And many people have emigrated, seeking better living conditions. I don't think these islands want to receive these sectors because their industrial development is very limited, he said.