UNHCR’S WORK WITH LOCAL NETWORKS IN SUPPORT OF THE WARAO INDIGENOUS POPULATION IN THE SOUTHEAST AND SOUTH OF : GOOD PRACTICES AND LESSONS LEARNED

November/2019 to March/2021 © PARES Cáritas/Luciana Queiroz UNHCR | THE UN REFUGEE AGENCY NOVEMBER/2019 TO MARCH/2021

Datasheet Acknowledgment

Institutional Coordination This document aims to strengthen the protec- UN Refugee Agency (UNHCR) has had the plea- José Egas tion and integration of the Warao indigenous sure of collaborating and dialoguing. Representative people in the South and Southeast regions of UNHCR Brazil the country through the recording of some of The UNHCR expresses its gratitude to the the many efforts undertaken by the hands of several partners mentioned in this document Maria Beatriz Bonna Nogueira several actors from civil society, public authori- and to the people who have volunteered on a Head of Office ties, universities, international organizations daily basis to support Warao families for sharing UNHCR and host communities operating in the local their efforts and, above all, for their commitment networks of some of the cities that, temporarily towards a culturally sensitive listening of this Sebastian Roa or permanently, have received this population. population, which undoubtedly has represented Senior Field Associate the main tool for the access to rights and inte- UNHCR Brazil It seeks to highlight some of the strategies, gration opportunities. good practices, challenges and lessons learned Sílvia Corradi Sander from the daily work of actors from the most To the Warao families and individuals, our grati- Protection Associate diverse sectors and institutions with which the tude for the opportunity for continuous learning. UNHCR São Paulo

Production

Lyvia Rodrigues Barbosa Senior Protection Assistant UNHCR São Paulo

Technical revision UNHCR São Paulo Team Maria Beatriz Bonna Nogueira Head of Office UNHCR São Paulo

Sílvia Corradi Sander Protection Associate UNHCR São Paulo

William Torres Laureano Da Rosa Senior RSD Assistant UNHCR São Paulo

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Sumário Context

Context 07 The humanitarian emergency situation in Venezu- response to the Venezuelan flow. It involves ela has affected all sectors of society, with a special the arrival of an ethnic group with no his- Arrival of Warao Groups to the Southeast and South 08 impact on historically vulnerable populations who, tory of presence in the Brazilian territory, in a Operating Strategy 09 without the means to survive the crisis, have been situation of forced displacement, with vulner- forced to flee to Brazil and other countries in the abilities and cultural aspects that are still little Working Groups 10 region. Among these groups, the forced displace- known and studied in the country. This unique Action Plan 12 ment of indigenous people stands out, which gener- situation, associated with the unpredictability ated a gradual flow to Brazil especially since 2014. in the movement of such groups in the Brazil- Capacity Building of Local Networks 13 With the worsening of the emergency, in 2016, there ian territory, creates additional challenges Good Practices, Challenges and Lessons Learned 14 was a considerable increase in the flow of indigenous for the institutions and networks that provide people of the Warao ethnicity towards the states of assistance to this population, who must pay São Paulo 14 and Amazonas. As of 2018, these groups attention to the specific needs and dynamics of / Japeri / Nova Iguaçu 15 began to move to the states of Pará, Maranhão and these indigenous people in order to respond to others in the Northeast region. In 2019, the Midwest basic needs related to food, shelter, health and Campinas / Hortolândia 17 and Southeast regions are also reached and, and in support for the development of livelihoods. Belo Horizonte 18 2020 and 2021 new groups have been identified in the South region. By March 2021, UNHCR estimated Along these lines, UNHCR has been working Uberlândia 21 that about 5,7991 Venezuelan indigenous refugees to ensure that this population has access to 22 and migrants were living in Brazil, the majority (69%) rights and to services in Brazil, in conjunction from the Warao ethnicity, in at least 23 states2. with governmental actors, the justice system, 23 civil society organizations and groups, foster- Final Remarks 24 The indigenous situation has been one of the ing protection and local integration in a cultur- biggest challenges in the Brazilian emergency ally sensitive way.

1 The UNHCR registers, through the proGres platform, the entire Venezuelan indigenous population that crosses the Pacaraima border in the state of Roraima. In this process, individual information is collected, such as personal data and specific protection needs of all family members.

2 UNITED NATIONS HIGH COMMISSIONER FOR REFUGEES. The Warao in Brazil: contributions to the protection of indigenous refugees and migrants. 2021.

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PROFILE OF THE WARAO INDIGENOUS POPULATION MONITORED BY UNHCR SÃO PAULO IN THE SOUTHEAST AND SOUTH Arrival of Warao Groups to the BETWEEN DECEMBER/2019 AND MARCH/2021 Southeast and South Regions GENDER X AGE FAMILY COMPOSITION

The movement of Warao groups within the Through the articulated action with the Working national territory has intensified in the last two Groups in the municipalities that received Warao GENDER 0-4 5-11 12-17 18-35 36-59 60+ years, reaching most of the states of the North families, it was possible to map, especially throughout 306 and Northeast, and arriving in the Southeast 2020 and the first months of 2021, the trajectories of Total of Individuals mainly after the second semester of 2019. Since the Warao groups that arrived in the Southeast and MALE 32 39 19 37 19 3 the arrival of the first group to the Southeast, the South regions. It was noticed, in this context, that the 69 UNHCR Field Office in São Paulo has supported groups have used two distinct routes that split from a FEMALE 26 30 11 47 12 6 Total of families states and municipalities through networking common path, focused, mostly, on the route via Pará, with government agents, civil society partner passing through several capitals of the Northeast organizations, social assistance networks, col- region, until reaching the Southeast; and, to a lesser *25 individuals had no information about gender and age. © ACNUR / Lyvia Barbosa lectives and community groups. A series of joint extent, the route via Rondônia, passing through the activities have been developed, with emphasis Midwest and arriving at the Southeast and South. In on the training of the networks for the culturally the same way, it was possible to trace the profile by sensitive assistance of this population, coordina- gender and age of these groups, identifying that, fol- tion of working groups and implementation of lowing the general profile of the population Warao in actions to protect and integrate indigenous refu- the country, they are composed of numerous family gees and migrants in response to the specific nuclei, in which over 50% of the members are children needs of this population. and adolescents, with a proportion of men slightly Operating Strategy above that of women.

TRAJECTORY OF INDIGENOUS WARAO TO THE SOUTHEAST AND SOUTH The unique characteristics of the culture and integrating Warao people in transit in the South- the displacement of the Warao population, as east and South of the country has been based

COMMON PATH Pacaraima well as the specific needs for protection in on the tripod (i) mobilization and support for the Boa Vista urban contexts, require intersectoral work sup- coordination of local networks through Working Pacaraima Boa Vista ported by previous information and conceptual Groups; (ii) support for the elaboration and imple- Belém SÃO PAULO GROUP São Luís alignment that consolidate the performance of mentation of joint action plans, aimed at the pro- Manaus the various actors to be involved in coordinated tection and local integration of Warao families and Belém São Luíz São Paulo Natal strategies for mitigating risks and promoting individuals; and (iii) strengthening the capacities of RIO / CAMPINAS / RIBEIRÃO PRETO GROUP local integration. In this sense, UNHCR São local actors through training aimed at interventions Paulo’s action strategy aimed at protecting and tailored to each specific context. Porto Goiânia Brasília Rio de Campinas Ribeirão Feira de Santana Cuiabá Brasília Montes Claros BELO HORIZONTE GROUP Goiânia

Uberlândia Belém Teresina Fortaleza Belo Horizonte Belo Horizonte Ribeirão Preto Campinas UBERLÂNDIA GROUP PORTO ALEGRE GROUP 1 Rio de Janeiro São Paulo Cascavel Belém Teresina Fortaleza Uberlândia Belo Horizonte Porto Velho Cuiabá Cascavel Porto Alegre

MONTES CLAROS GROUP PORTO ALEGRE GROUP 2

Porto Alegre Belém São Luís Fortaleza Natal Recife Feira de Santana Montes Claros Porto Alegre

© ACNUR / Lyvia Barbosa

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Working Groups

UNHCR São Paulo has worked on the articula- Warao individuals have been accompanied by tion and establishment of Working Groups the WGs established in the cities of Belo Horizon- involving actors of the public authorities, justice te (MG), Campinas/Hortolândia (SP), Montes Claros SÃO PAULO system, civil society, international organiza- (MG), Nova Iguaçu/Japeri (RJ), Rio de Janeiro (RJ), • São Paulo Municipal Secretariat for Human Rights and Citizenship tions and academia to build interdisciplinary São Paulo (SP), Uberlândia (MG) and, recently, • Reference and Assistance Center for Immigrants • Federal Public Defender’s Office and intersectoral discussion environments that, Porto Alegre (RS). Through regular meetings of the • Archdiocesan Caritas of São Paulo • Indigenist Missionary Council centered on the community-based protection WGs, it has been possible to develop strategies • Indigenous Pastoral • UN Refugee Agency approach, can guarantee the Warao’s active and and Joint Action Plans aimed at protecting and • International Organization for Migration culturally sensitive listening and their access to assisting families in each context, with a focus on rights and services, as well as make integration addressing emergency needs and promoting local RIO DE JANEIRO opportunities available in the local network. integration in the respective municipalities. • Municipal Secretariat of Social Assistance • Municipal Secretariat of Health • State Secretariat of Social Development In this perspective, UNHCR São Paulo supported With the establishment of institutional links among and Human Rights • State Secretariat of Health the creation and, in some cases, the joint coor- the members of the WGs, as well as the rooting • State Intersectoral Committee for Policies for Refugees and Migrants dination, of 7 (seven) Working Groups (WGs), of referral flows to assist the indigenous groups • Federal Public Defender’s Office • Federal Public Prosecutor’s Office playing an important role in sharing guidelines in some cities and the stabilization of the local • Archdiocesan Caritas of Rio de Janeiro • UN Refugee Agency for the reception of this population and shar- integration scenario of the Warao families, some of • International Organization for Migration ing of experiences accumulated by the Agency the WGs, by decision of their members, chose to UBERLÂNDIA in the protection, sheltering and integration of suspend the periodic meetings, with the possibility NOVA IGUAÇU/JAPERI • Municipal Secretariat of Health Venezuelan indigenous people in the country. of reactivation in the event of new emergency situ- • State Committee for the Assistance of Migrants • Nova Iguaçu Municipal Secretariat of Social Assistance and Refugees, for Confronting Human Trafficking Between November 2019 and March 2021, 306 ations or even the arrival of new groups. • Japeri Municipal Secretariat of Social and for the Eradication of Slave Labor in Assistance and Labor Guardianship Councils • Nova Iguaçu Municipal Secretariat for the • National Indian Foundation Environment, and Agriculture • Federal Public Defender’s Office • State Secretariat of Health • State Public Defender’s Office • State Intersectoral Committee for Policies • Jesuit Service for Migrants and Refugees of Belo Horizonte for Refugees and Migrants • Support and Assistance Work for Foreign Refugees • National Indian Foundation • Federal University of Uberlândia • Federal Public Defender’s Office • UN Refugee Agency • Archdiocesan Caritas of Rio de Janeiro • International Organization for Migration • UN Refugee Agency • International Organization for Migration

MONTES CLAROS CAMPINAS/HORTOLÂNDIA • State Committee for the Assistance of Migrants and Refugees, for Confronting Human Trafficking and for • Hortolândia Municipal Secretariat of the Eradication of Slave Labor in Minas Gerais Social Inclusion and Development • Municipal Secretariat of Social Development • Campinas Municipal Secretariat of Social Assistance, • Municipal Secretariat of Health Persons with Disabilities and Human Rights • Caritas Human Rights Reference Center • State Public Defender’s Office • Archdiocese of Montes Claros • State Public Prosecutor’s Office • Civil society volunteers • UN Refugee Agency • Alternative Agriculture Center of the North of Minas Gerais • UN Refugee Agency • International Organization for Migration

BELO HORIZONTE • Municipal Secretariat of Social Assistance, PORTO ALEGRE Food Security and Citizenship • Municipal Secretariat of Health • Municipal Secretariat of Social Development and Sport (Unit for • Belo Horizonte Urbanization and Immigrant Indigenous Peoples and Collective Rights, Reference Housing Company (Urbel) Center for Migrants and Social Assistance Reference Center ) • Federal Public Defender’s Office • Municipal Secretariat of Health • State Public Defender’s Office • Jesuit Service for Migrants and Refugees of Porto Alegre • Jesuit Service for Migrants and • Fé e Alegria Foundation Refugees - Belo Horizonte • Anthropology Study Center of Indigenous • Regional Caritas in Minas Gerais and Traditional Societies (NIT-UFRGS) • Franciscan Service Network • Brazilian Red Cross • Pontifical Catholic University of Minas Gerais • UN Refugee Agency • Federal University of Minas Gerais • International Organization for Migration • Indigenous Committee of Minas Gerais • UN Refugee Agency • International Organization for Migration

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Action Plan Capacity Building of Local Networks The arrival of forcibly displaced Venezuelan civil society organizations and groups, from the indigenous people from the Warao ethnic group moment new Warao groups arrive in the territory. in the Southeast and South of Brazil has posed In addition to close monitoring of local networks, The training aims to present the Warao culture new challenges to local networks. Communica- Structured based on a community-based protection UNHCR São Paulo has committed to support the con- to the network, the causes of internal displace- tion difficulties, cultural differences, legal and approach and on good practices of interventions tinued training of government agencies, civil society ment of this population in Venezuela and the documentary specificities, and the scarcity with the Warao population in other regions of the organizations and other actors who work directly with forced displacement to Brazil, as well as key of family resources are added to the diverse country, the Plan proposes three main axes. After Warao groups in order to support them in promoting guidelines for working with this population. The demands for access to food, shelter and health the establishment of the Working Groups composed culturally sensitive assistance. In this regard, UNHCR training also highlights the successful practices care, among others3. by strategic actors of the local networks, it is recom- São Paulo held, between November 2019 and March and some of the accumulated knowledge in the mended: (i) carrying out the indigenous groups’ 2020, 7 (seven) training sessions for more than 370 networks of the North, Southeast and South This scenario made clear the need to develop protection analysis, including identification of specific public and civil society actors considered central regions, and the main challenges faced in guidelines to assist local networks in planning needs related to documentation, health, prevention to the assistance, protection, and integration of this assisting and supporting the integration of this and monitoring the assistance to the Warao. In and response to gender based violence, among oth- population in the municipalities of Belo Horizonte, population. The trainings are oriented to the this perspective, UNHCR São Paulo developed ers related to the age, gender and diversity profiles; Campinas, Montes Claros, Nova Iguaçu, Japeri, Rio technical advising of the local WGs. an Emergency Action Plan Model, designed as (ii) immediate referrals to the responsible bodies de Janeiro, São Paulo and Uberlândia. a step-by-step approach to the main actions that, for social assistance and health measures, according as recommended, can guide the actors involved to needs identified in the protection analysis; and (iii) in the identification of protection needs and the elaboration of medium and long-term protection establishment of assistance priorities. It intends to and local integration strategies suited to the interest support the planning and adoption of measures of brief or prolonged stay in the city, as identified in TRAINING CONTENT IN SUPPORT OF LOCAL WGs by the public authorities, with the support of interviews with the indigenous groups.

ELEMENTS OF WARAO COMPARED EXPERIENCES ACCUMULATED ETHNIC CULTURE BY LOCAL NETWORKS IN THE NORTH, SOUTHEAST AND SOUTH REGIONS

DISPLACEMENT IN VENEZUELA CHALLENGES FACED IN PROTECTING AXES OF THE ACTION PLAN AND TO BRAZIL AND INTEGRATING WARAO FAMILIES

ARTICULATION AND PROTECTION REFERRALS TO ELABORATION OF ESTABLISHMENT ANALYSIS THE RESPONSIBLE PROTECTION AND OF WG INSTITUTIONS LOCAL INTEGRATION Identification of STRATEGIES Planning and Warao’s profile and Assistance measures monitoring activities specific needs to be taken based on Culturally sensitive and interventions with the protection analysis and appropriate to the the indigenous people length of stay expressed by the groups

3 UNITED NATIONS HIGH COMMISSIONER FOR REFUGEES. The Warao in Brazil: Anthropology contributions to the protection of indigenous refugees and migrants. 2021 Virtual training carried out jointly by UNHCR and SJMR BH to the local network in Belo Horizonte. ©UNHCR/Sílvia Sander

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passed through a rented one-room property • The families’ perception of urban violence, as in downtown São Paulo. During this period, well as of the low profitability of collecting money Good Practices, none of the alternatives proved to be sus- on the streets compared to that obtained in tainable to meet the needs and dynamics other cities in the North and Northeast of Brazil, Challenges and of the group, evidencing the challenge in resulted in the group’s return, on December identifying, in an urban environment, safe 20th, 2019, to São Luís do Maranhão. On that housing with adequate and sustainable occasion, UNHCR informed the intention of Lessons Learned typology in the medium and long term. families to the São Luís social assistance network for follow-up.

SÃO PAULO GOOD PRACTICES RIO DE JANEIRO / JAPERI / NOVA IGUAÇU

GOOD PRACTICES • Fostering Networking. Upon being informed, port for income generation. After mapping in early December 2019, of the expected the initial demands, the members of the WG • Fostering Networking. The UNHCR was tered and also the Warao families’ perception of arrival of 16 Warao indigenous individuals designed and implemented preliminary and informed by the State Intersectoral Commit- the safety dynamics inside and outside the shelter. in the city of São Paulo, UNHCR mobilized emergency response strategies. tee for Policies for Refugees and Migrants The families were then sheltered in a farm in the the local network to form a Working Group (CEIPARM), in January 2020, about the arrival municipality of Japeri, by initiative of a religious integrated by the Federal Public Defender’s • Monitoring by specialized services. Institu- of 35 Warao Indigenous individuals in Rio de group. After about 6 months, due to the risk of Office (DPU), the Reference and Assis- tions specialized in assisting the refugee and Janeiro. In conjunction with CEIPARM’s coordi- eviction of the property where they were and the tance Center for Immigrants (CRAI) and the migrant population in the municipality of São nation, UNHCR established a Working Group daily transit of families to collect money in Nova Coordination for Policies for Immigrants Paulo, such as CRAI, CPMigTd, UNHCR and with the participation of the Archdiocesan Cari- Iguaçu, the WG articulated with the Nova Iguaçu and Decent Work (CPMigTd) of the City of Archdiocesan Caritas of São Paulo, accom- tas of Rio de Janeiro, actors from the State and Secretariat of Social Assistance (SEMAS) the inclu- São Paulo, as well as by the Archdiocesan panied the group in person during the 20 Municipal Public Secretariat of Social Assistance sion of the families in a municipal public housing Caritas of São Paulo, Indigenous Pastoral days period they were in the territory. Priority and Health, the Federal Public Prosecutor’s program . However, given the difficulty of finding and Indigenous Missionary Council (CIMI), was given to respond to immediate needs for Office, the Federal Public Defender’s Office properties with an adequate structure and a value International Organization for Migration safe shelter, health care and food security. and IOM. After 26 members of the indig- compatible with the housing social benefit, and (IOM) and with the technical support of the During the group’s stay in São Paulo, home enous group moved to the city of Japeri and, considering the families’ desire to continue to live anthropologist Marlise Rosa. In dialogue visits were made, with the prior consent of the subsequently, to Nova Iguaçu, a new WG was together, SEMAS ceded and adapted a municipal with the WG actors, the Warao group pre- indigenous families, by the municipality health articulated with the participation of CEIPARM, property where a public school used to work, sented its situation and basic needs, which and social assistance agents, ensuring the Caritas, the Secretariats of Social Assistance now deactivated. The group moved to the place included demands for immediate and safe necessary monitoring for the identification and of the two cities, the Public Defender’s Office, in early December 2020 and stipulated, together shelter, health care, food security and sup- timely response to emergency needs. the State Secretariat of Health, the National with the Secretariat, community coexistence rules Indian Foundation (FUNAI) and IOM. Both WGs appropriate to their cultural reality. The families became crucial for the continuous response continue to be weekly monitored by the local to the families’ protective needs, as well as for Social Assistance Reference Center (CRAS) and by CHALLENGES AND LESSONS LEARNED the elaboration and implementation of the local the Secretariat’s civil servants and managers. integration strategy. • Housing strategy. Despite the immedi- such as São Paulo represented a central • Access to social assistance and education. ate efforts undertaken by the WG and the challenge. During the 20-days period, the • Housing strategy. Upon their arrival in the region, SEMAS closely monitors the families and, existence of public and civil society shelters group went to a hotel in an area considered the families initially camped around the Novo after mapping their needs, has registered specialized in serving the refugee and unsafe in the context of urban violence; was Rio Bus Station, where they remained for a few the entire group in the CadÚnico to receive migrant public, providing indigenous fami- sheltered for few days, after the mediation weeks. An attempt was made by the public the Bolsa Família governmental benefit and lies with temporary shelter or provisional of CIMI, in the Guarani indigenous land in authorities to refer the families to a public shelter, formed a working group in the CRAS of the housing adequate to their specificities Jaraguá neighborhood; was sheltered in a an initiative that was proved to be unsuccessful territory that conducts weekly home visits in the context of an urban public reception center for immigrants; and given the different profiles of those being shel- to the shelter. Also, all children were regis-

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tered in the municipality’s social assistance • Support of the Federal Public Defender’s program for early childhood. With regard to Office (DPU).As a member of the WG, the DPU education, all school-age children have been has played an important role in answering to enrolled and are following online classes at the group’s legal needs, including support in the shelter using a computer donated by the raising awareness of key actors as to Waraos’ municipality and an internet connection paid rights. Among others, the DPU, through letters for by the Warao themselves. sent to the competent authorities, guaranteed the payment of the emergency aid benefit and • Documents The renewal of the entire group’s the opening of bank accounts for the receipt of asylum claim protocols before the Federal housing and Bolsa Familia benefits. Police was supported by Caritas and the munici- palities of Japeri and Nova Iguaçu. To this date, • Exchange of good practices in the health three members of the group have been recog- assistance. In order to improve the care nized as refugees by CONARE. towards the Warao indigenous people and raise awareness among the health team about • Income generation strategy. Following the their cultural differences, the State Health Com- interests expressed by the group in succes- mittee of the Immigrant and Refugee Popula- sive consultations, the income generation tions of Rio de Janeiro organized, with the strategy was divided into two complementary support of UNHCR, a conversation to exchange axes. Regarding the women, it was centered in experiences among health professionals the production and sale of handicrafts made of who are members of the Belo Horizonte WG beads. The raw material has been, until now, and members in the health system of Rio de donated by Caritas and the Educational and Janeiro, Japeri and Nova Iguaçu municipalities. Cultural Foundation of Nova Iguaçu, and the The families continue to be regularly monitored production of the handicrafts has the support by the Nova Iguaçu health network and the of workshops held by the Foundation and IOM, State Secretariat of Health and, as a result of with an intent of creating a sales chain. The the exchange of experiences and the ongo- adult men expressed interest in entering the ing awareness of the teams, the families have formal job market and, through SEMAS and been guaranteed access to regular medical other municipality’s partner companies, one of monitoring and treatment, by different medi- them has been working, for 5 months and under cal specialties and according to the identified formal employment, in the city urban cleaning needs. Strategies with greater sensitivity to cul- Warao families sheltered in Japeri/Nova Iguaçu take part in participatory assessment promoted by UNHCR São Paulo and the Archdiocesan company. Two other family members are under- tural differences have, as reported in the WG, Caritas of Rio de Janeiro. ©PARES Caritas/Luciana Queiroz going job interviews at the City Hall’s partner guaranteed greater adherence to treatments companies through SEMAS intermediation. by the Warao families. CAMPINAS / HORTOLÂNDIA

GOOD PRACTICES

• Fostering Networking. In February 2020, sibilities for cooperation in the protection and CHALLENGES AND LESSONS LEARNED UNHCR São Paulo was informed of the arrival of assistance to Venezuelan refugee and migrant two groups of indigenous Warao in Campinas, indigenous peoples. As a result, the munici- • Support for the group’s self-sufficiency. Despite However, their own cultural dynamics in manag- totaling 17 people, both from Rio de Janeiro. In pality has drafted a protocol to organize the the advances and good practices already ing financial resources and the relationship with order to support the assistance actions of the actions of the different public policies involved achieved by SEMAS with the support of the formal employment, challenges in setting up the Campinas Municipality, UNHCR participated in a in monitoring the Warao indigenous group. other actors in the WG, the economic self-suffi- production chain and sale of handicrafts, and meeting with the Municipal Secretaries of Social After the moving of the groups to Hortolândia, ciency of the Warao group remains a challenge. limitations arising from the COVID-19 pandemic, Assistance and Institutional Relations, and with a city next to Campinas, and as they remained Joint efforts associating income generation continue to pose challenges to the economic the Reference Center for Immigrants and Refu- in transit through Campinas to collect money, through handicrafts to formal jobs are ongoing. sustainability of the families. gees, to present the agency’s work and pos- in May, 2020 a Working Group was formed by

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members of the State Prosecutor’s Office and context that, to a large extent, constitutes their only expression of interest of the three Warao fami- an emergency basis, in a SJMR BH property the State Public Defender’s Office, the Secre- means of income generation. It was emphasized lies in staying for an indefinite period in Belo whose rules and spaces were adapted to suit tariat for Inclusion and Social Development of that this practice is not, in general, understood as Horizonte, a medium and long term action the cultural specificities of this population. Hortolândia, the Secretary of Social Assistance, derogatory, embarrassing, or unworthy, but rather plan for the protection and integration of the Exceptionally, UNHCR supported with the first Persons with Disabilities and Human Rights of as a job. The Guardianship Council’s interven- families in an urban environment was devel- three months of housing rent, as a counterpart Campinas, and UNHCR São Paulo. tions began to focus on the families’ progressive oped, including a series of joint measures by to the Municipality’s commitment to include awareness of the Brazilian legislation that protects the members of the WG. the families in the housing assistance program • Awareness of the Guardianship Council. The children and adolescents. for an initial period of 2 years. Campinas Guardianship Council approached • Community mediation. The work developed UNHCR to express their concerns and request • Access to social assistance and education. by the WG includes continuous cultural and • Income generation strategy. Following the support regarding the participation of Warao chil- Before the movement restrictions caused linguistic mediation by the SJMR BH Social interests expressed by the group, the income dren in collecting money on the streets. In order to by the pandemic, the Warao children in Analyst, an indigenous Venezuelan of the generation strategy was divided into two axes. support culturally sensitive interventions, UNHCR Hortolândia were attending school regularly. Warao ethnic group. This work has been For women, it is centered on the production shared with the counselors good practices and Even though classes were suspended due essential to ensure the active and culturally and sale of handicrafts. Through the interme- legal guidelines issued by Brazilian authorities in to the pandemic, the families were provided sensitive listening of the Warao group in Belo diation and support of the SJMR, the Indigenous other municipalities, awareness also supported by access to a food security program linked to Horizonte, and also in other cities that have Committee of Minas Gerais held handicraft the Campinas Secretariat of Social Assistance. In children enrolled in public schools, which received Warao groups, supporting the articu- workshops accompanied by entrepreneurship summary, it was contextualized that the collection enabled them to receive food baskets from lation to the access to services and opportuni- sessions with the artisans, taught by a Brazil- of money on the streets by indigenous Waraos the Hortolândia municipality, and, for being ties available in the local networks. ian indigenous woman from the Ticuna ethnic has a different meaning in their culture because enrolled in CadÚnico, they also accessed the group. The raw materials have been articulated it is an adaptive strategy developed in the urban emergency aid. • Access to social assistance. Since the group’s through donations from members of the WG arrival to the city, they have been assisted by the and resources provided by UNHCR. The handi- Municipal Secretariat of Social Assistance (SMA- crafts are being sold in spaces made available SAC), which, based on the mapping of demands through a partnership with the Indigenous CHALLENGES AND LESSONS LEARNED made by the WG, guaranteed the registration Committee, and at city street markets. Adult of all members in the CadÚnico to receive the men showed interest in mechanics courses and • Money collection. With the pandemic and the strategy aiming at also preventing women and chil- Bolsa Família financial aid and established spe- in entering the formal labor market. However, in classes being suspended, the children returned dren from going to the money collecting activity on cific flows to ensure regular monitoring within the the context of the pandemic, access to formal to participate in the money collection activities the streets. CRAS was starting conversations with scope of social assistance programs related to jobs has not yet been possible. with their parents. Other preventive and culturally the group in this regard, but at the end of August the specific needs of the group. sensitive approaches started to be planned, such 2020, the families decided to leave Hortolândia for • Performance of Public Defenders Offices.The as handicraft production as an income generation Brasilia, where they had family members. • Awareness of health teams. The health condi- State and Federal Public Defender’s Offices tion of the group members began to be moni- played an important role in addressing the tored in an exemplary manner by the health needs of the group and in raising awareness team of the Belo Horizonte Municipality, with among key actors regarding their cultural speci- the support of the cultural mediation of the ficities. The role of the Public Defender’s Office BELO HORIZONTE SJMR BH Warao Social Analyst and technical in the area of child protection is noteworthy, GOOD PRACTICES support from UNHCR São Paulo. Interventions including its support in raising the Guardianship in the health area (such as psychological and Council’s awareness of cultural specificities and • Fostering Networking. In February 2020, a tariat for Social Assistance, Food Security and prenatal care) have been constantly adapted ensuring the rapid enrollment of children in the group of 17 Warao indigenous people settled Citizenship (SMASAC); Municipal Secretariat by health teams to dialogue with the Warao municipal school system. The Federal Public in Belo Horizonte and since then have had of Health; Belo Horizonte Urbanization and ethnic group’s own cultural specificities and Defender’s Office, through recommendations the support of a Working Group formed by Housing Company (Urbel); Federal University beliefs in health care. and the issuance of official letters, guaranteed UNHCR, Jesuit Service for Migrants and of Minas Gerais; Pontifical Catholic University the group’s emergency shelter in a municipal Refugees (SJMR); Federal and the State Public of Minas Gerais; Regional Caritas in Minas • Housing strategy. After a period living in service, as well as access to emergency assis- Defender’s Offices; Indigenous Committee Gerais and IOM, under the joint coordination street situation and having gone through a tance and the opening of bank accounts to of Minas Gerais; Federal Public Prosecutor’s of UNHCR, SJMR and the Federal and the public shelter for the homeless population, enable families to receive housing and Bolsa Office; Franciscan Network; Municipal Secre- State Public Defender’s Offices. In view of the the group was provisionally sheltered, on Familia financial benefits.

18 19 UNHCR | THE UN REFUGEE AGENCY NOVEMBER/2019 TO MARCH/2021

• Access to culturally sensitive food secu- • Portuguese as a culturally sensitive host UBERLÂNDIA rity. The group is receiving food baskets language. In response to a demand from the GOOD PRACTICES and horticultural products from the Belo families, SJMR sought a partnership with the Horizonte municipality programs and with Pro-Imigrantes project of the School of Letters • Fostering Networking. In June 2020, the formally joined the CSVM, an UNHCR initiative the support of the Indigenous Committee of UFMG, which developed a culturally sensi- organization Support and Assistance to Foreign that disseminates refugee-related themes in of Minas Gerais. For cultural reasons, the tive approach in the teaching of Portuguese Refugees (TAARE) contacted UNHCR São Paulo university teaching, research and extension pro- Waraos usually do not consume some of the as host language, including materials spe- to inform the presence of 17 Warao Indigenous grams. Through the Chair, several study centers products in the standard food basket. In cially developed for the Waraos. Since August, persons in Uberlândia. Since then, UNHCR, with at UFU strengthened their research and aca- order to provide a diet closer to what they adults and children have been attending the support of COMITRATE (State Committee demic extension programs aimed at the Warao normally consume, the employees of the weekly online classes. The course has been for the Assistance of Migrants and Refugees, population, as well as other populations in Secretariat of Health, members of the WG, instrumental in the local integration of the for Confronting Human Trafficking and for the asylum and migration situation. Currently, UFU is have been helping the families to exchange group, which is now moving around the city Eradication of Slave Labor in Minas Gerais) and monitoring 7 Warao families and assisting them the items not consumed for proteins and and communicating without the intermediation under the coordination of TAARE, began mobi- with the documentation regularization, guaran- other products preferred by them. of the SJMR Social Analyst. lizing the local network by contacting actors teeing access to social assistance benefits, and from the Federal University of Uberlândia (UFU), elaborating income generation strategies. the Municipal Secretariat of Health, FUNAI, the State and Federal Public Defender’s Offices, • Access to health. The Health Secretariat of Guardianship Council, IOM, other civil society Uberlândia has ensured the monitoring of the CHALLENGES AND LESSONS LEARNED organizations and also from the Warao WG of Warao groups through the Family Health Pro- Belo Horizonte, such as SJMR. gram, which conducts periodic home visits. • Housing strategy. Even with the approval of • Support for the group’s self-sufficiency. After the housing subsidy benefits, the SJMR found just over a year of continuous and close work • Awareness of the Guardianship Council. Since • Access to social assistance. Through TAARE, it difficult to identify a property for rental by with the Warao families, greater independence the arrival of the first group of Waraos, the Guard- the group was referred to the Social Assistance the Warao families, either due to successive in urban traffic and communication with the ianship Council of Uberlândia demonstrated Reference Center (CRAS), which registered refusals by owners to rent properties to health and assistance network teams are notori- concerns about the situation of the children who the families in CadÚnico to receive the Bolsa indigenous families, or due to the difficulty of ous. However, despite the advances and good accompanied their parents during the street col- Família benefit, and established specific flows finding a location with a typology adequate practices adopted, the network finds that close lection of money. After the sensitization of the to ensure regular monitoring within the social to the size of the family nuclei. Only after five monitoring remains essential for the promotion of local Guardianship Council through the WG, the assistance programs with attention to the spe- months of searching, it was possible to rent 2 full integration of families and economic self-suffi- institution became a great ally of the network cific needs of the group. houses for the families. ciency through the generation of income through in the implementation of protective measures the production of handicrafts and insertion in the for the Warao indigenous groups in Uberlândia. • School monitoring. Since November 2020, formal labor market. Together with TAARE, they referred families to IKMR, UNHCR’s partner organization, has update their registration at CadÚnico in order to been providing remote educational support, enable them to receive social benefits, and also through the Citizens of the World project, to requested vacancies for school-aged children to children from three Warao families to help the Municipal Department of Education. them adapting to the school environment. The educational support Monitoring takes • Partnership with the Sérgio Vieira de Mello place during after-school hours, through Chair (CSVM). Due to UFU’s participation and virtual tutoring, focused on complementary engagement in the Warao WG, the university learning needs.

Warao children temporarily sheltered at Vila Alberto Hurtado (SJMR BH) perform 20 recreational activity mediated by 21 the local network. ©SJMR-BH UNHCR | THE UN REFUGEE AGENCY NOVEMBER/2019 TO MARCH/2021

CHALLENGES AND LESSONS LEARNED CHALLENGES AND LESSONS LEARNED

• Unpredictability of movement. The move- the previous cities of residence. In this • Food security. The arrival of new families of the families in the municipal public food ment of the Warao indigenous groups in context, continuous integration measures to the property rented by the Archdiocese, security programs. Uberlândia proved to be very intense, with remain hindered. However, with the sensi- composed mainly of extended family mem- the reception of several groups that arrived tized and trained network, it was possible bers from the previous groups, represented • Reception and Housing Strategy. Due to the in the city and stayed for a short period of to perceive a fluidity in the prioritization of an increase in the demand for food, sup- provisional character of the current shelter of the time in rented properties, or that remained specific needs and in the referrals made to plies and equipment necessary for the Warao families by the Archdiocese, the WG con- in frequent transit between Uberlândia and groups in frequent transit. preparation and storage of food (such as tinues to negotiate with the public authorities the gas, energy, water, refrigerator and stove). development of a medium and long-term shelter- As the donations so far obtained by civil ing and housing strategy that guarantees the pro- society are not sufficient and sustainable, tection of the families living in Montes Claros and MONTES CLAROS the network has demanded the inclusion enable support to possible new arrivals in the city.

GOOD PRACTICES

• Fostering Networking. In November 2020, alternatives continue to be negotiated with the the SJMR contacted UNHCR to report the public authorities and the local network. arrival of the Warao group in Montes Claros. Since then, UNHCR, with the assistance • Culturally sensitive food security. The Warao PORTO ALEGRE of COMITRATE (State Committee for the group is receiving donations of food baskets Assistance of Migrants and Refugees, for and food collected by the Regional Caritas of GOOD PRACTICES Confronting Human Trafficking and for the Minas Gerais and the Archdiocese in Montes Eradication of Slave Labor in Minas Gerais) Claros. However, considering that, for cultural • Fostering Networking. The first group of 14 Porto Alegre; services for indigenous and and the Reference Center for Human Rights reasons, the Warao indigenous people usu- Warao individuals arrived in Porto Alegre in migrant populations and of social protection of Northern Minas (CRDH), began mobilizing ally do not consume some of the products April 2020 and began to be accompanied by linked to the Municipal Secretariat of Social the local network by contacting the Munici- of the food basket, the network has sought the Anthropology Study Center for Indigenous Development; the Federal University of Rio pal Secretariats of Social Assistance and donations from the list of most common food and Traditional Societies (NIT) at the Federal Grande do Sul, the Fé e Alegria Foundation Health, the Archdiocese of Montes Claros, items in the group’s diet in order to respect University of . The NIT helped and the Brazilian Red Cross. UNHCR will the Center for Alternative Agriculture in their culinary tradition and avoid food waste. families in requesting emergency assistance continue to accompany the WG for con- the North of Minas Gerais and the IOM. In aid, as well as in the search for housing and in tinuous support to local teams in developing December 2020, under the joint coordina- • Access to social assistance. The group is being the creation of a sales chain for the handicraft strategies for assistance. tion of UNHCR, CRDH, IOM, Secretariat monitored by the Secretariat of Social Develop- products. With the arrival of new groups to the of Social Development and civil society, ment, which has registered everyone in CadÚnico city in 2021, the Unit for Immigrant Indigenous • Vaccination against COVID-19. In view of being two Working Groups were created, namely to receive the Bolsa Família benefit, and estab- Peoples and Diffuse Rights (UPIDE), the Refer- a priority group under the National Immunization Social Assistance and Health, and Network lished specific flows to ensure regular monitoring ence Center for Migrants and the Reference Plan against COVID-19, UPIDE supported the Training, to monitor the reception and within the scope of social assistance programs Center for Social Assistance of the Municipal referral of the Warao indigenous people for vac- integration of the almost 100 indigenous related to the specific needs of the group. Secretariat of Social Development and Sport cination, held in January 2021. people present in the municipality. started to accompany the groups through visits • Performance of the Justice System. In late to verify their needs and possibilities of inclusion • Access to social programs. Through UPIDE, • Support from civil society. In view of the risk of March 2021, the State and Federal Public in social programs. In March of this year, the two of the families were included in the eviction and the lack of immediately available Defender’s Offices, together with the Federal SJMR Reference Center articulated, with the Food Security Strategy of the Porto Alegre alternatives in municipal public policies, the Arch- Public Prosecutor’s Office, issued a joint rec- support of UNHCR, the creation of a specific municipality. The families are also in the diocese, as an emergency measure, sheltered ommendation to the Municipality of Montes working group within the scope of other existing process of inclusion in the social rental the indigenous people in a deactivated school. Claros requesting the elaboration of a Munici- forums, including the participation of local key program and currently have a spot at the Due to high rental costs and current expenses, pal Plan that ensure the insertion of Warao actors, to centralize the coordination of protec- Redenção street market - which takes place the Archdiocese signaled the possibility of shel- families in public policies of social assistance, tion and integration actions for the Warao fami- on weekends in one of the city’s main tering the group until May 2021. After this period, housing, food, health and education. lies. The first meeting was attended by SJMR squares - for the sale of handicrafts.

22 23 UNHCR | THE UN REFUGEE AGENCY

Final Remarks

Working to guarantee the rights and cultur- good practices in responding to the specific ally sensitive reception of the Warao indigenous needs of these Venezuelan indigenous families. people is known to be a challenging exercise for actors in all areas due to the cultural speci- Additionally, the work with local networks contrib- ficities that affect the support and assistance utes to the refugee and migrant public as a whole, process. Between November 2019 and March as after the training and discussions in the WGs, 2021, UNHCR São Paulo concentrated efforts different actors have been sensitized on the need on the articulation of local networks in the to strengthen the support to the specific needs of states and municipalities in its area of coverage these populations as a way of guaranteeing the that received Warao indigenous groups in tran- access to rights. An example of this was the part- sit. This mobilization aims to support networks nership and articulation between UNHCR and the with information on the culture and history of Municipality of Nova Iguaçu developed within the forced displacement of the Warao people, as scope of the Warao WG, which culminated in the well as to offer tools to help guide and structure opening of a shelter to receive the unprecedented protection interventions based on active and reallocation of 23 Venezuelan elderly people, from culturally sensitive listening of this population. Roraima, in November 2020. Another prominent initiative articulated within the scope of one of the The Working Groups created and coordinated Warao WGs - in this case, in Belo Horizonte - was with the support of UNHCR, always in conjunc- the creation of a bank account opening pathway tion with relevant actors and organizations, at Caixa Econômica Federal for refugees and have therefore constituted a good practice in migrants of different nationalities, as well as the building a mobilization space for the articulation training of the bank employees to address the of public policies on social assistance, health, documentary specificities of these populations. education, labor and income generation, among other, aimed at ensuring the rights of the Warao Throughout 2021, UNHCR São Paulo will contin- individuals. In all interventions, the existing ue to monitor and support local networks in the regulations and the realities and specificities of Southeast and South regions, and in the state each local network are taken into consideration. of , for continuous and culturally sensitive Through these forums, it has been possible support to other Warao groups already estab- to foster culturally sensitive care and develop lished or that remain in transit in different cities.

UNHCR conducts participatory assessment with Warao group in Japeri, Rio de Janeiro. © PARES Cáritas/Luciana Queiroz.

24 25 Contacts acnur.org.br

 Maria Beatriz Nogueira Sílvia Sander Lyvia Barbosa @ACNURBrasil  UNHCR Head of Protection Associate of Senior Protection Assistant /ACNURPortugues  Office in São Paulo, UNHCR in São Paulo, of UNHCR in São Paulo, @acnurbrasil  [email protected] [email protected] [email protected] /company/acnurportugues