December 2019 AMERICAS MONTHLY REPORT © UNHCR/Santiago Escobar-Jaramillo. Venezuelans Ricardo and Maria hold Venezuelans © UNHCR/Santiago Escobar-Jaramillo. their one-month-old son at a shelter in Manaus, Brazil. This document provides an overview of key developments affecting the displacement situation in the Americas and some UNHCR response activities in line with the 2019 strategic objectives for the region. VENEZUELA SITUATION 768,146 REGISTERED ASYLUM-SEEKERS (as of 5 January 2020) 4.8 MILLION 377,047 IN PERU 135,033 IN BRAZIL REFUGEES AND MIGRANTS 105,421 IN U.S.A 17,981 IN MEXICO from Venezuela living abroad (as of 5 December 2019) 58,597 IN SPAIN 3.9 MILLION OVER 2,1 MILLION VENEZUELANS WITH in Latin America and the Caribbean states REGULAR STATUS including resident permits (as of 5 January 2020) (as of 5 January 2020) KEY DEVELOPMENTS In Ecuador, the Constitutional Court issued a decision which sets a legal precedent for non-detention of On 5 December, Brazil recognized 21,432 Venezuelan a person for his or her migratory situation, makes asylum-seekers as refugees. The number of deportation a final resort and sets the circumstances recognitions is almost twice as many as those granted under which a person cannot be deported (i.e. victims since 1997. The decision was based on a presumption of trafficking, refugees, and people who have not been of inclusion resulting from the objective circumstances able to regularize their situation). The decision prohibits prevailing in Venezuela, which Brazil had characterized initiating deportation processes based on information earlier in the year as “serious and generalized violations obtained by public institutions that receive refugees and of human rights” (broader refugee criteria contained migrants, strengthens the principle of non-refoulement, in the Brazilian Refugee Protection Act). You can read non-detention for migratory status and recognizes more here. the presence in the territory of people who cannot In Colombia, 26,800 birth certificates have been regularize their status for reasons beyond their control marked (sometimes retroactively) with the sentence (included their economic situation). “valid to demonstrate nationality” since the start of the On 27 December, Paraguay recognized 720 implementation in August 2019 of the Government’s Venezuelans as refugees (including 112 children) using measure granting nationality to children born in a prima facie approach. This comes as a result of an Colombia to Venezuelan parents, whose nationality was ordinary meeting of the CONARE after discussions on undetermined. See a video on this clicking here. UNHCR Guidance Note in June, where the Commission December 2019 AMERICAS MONTHLY REPORT had debated its application and approved the use of a of the classes as a means of local integration and social merged RSD. cohesion. With regards inclusion of the refugee population, efforts in the region include a wide ragnge of activities. Under UNHCR RESPONSE DURING THE PERIOD the European Union DEVCO-funded ‘Inclusive Cities, Communities of Solidarity’ project, UNHCR and ILO facilitated a workshop for the Municipal Association In order to strengthen refugee status determination of Great Santo Domingo (MGSD), in the Dominican processes and the quality of registration in the region, Republic. Participants discussed the potential to integrate UNHCR’s Quality Assurance Initiative support to CONARE the Venezuelan population into their planning. in Brazil included the recruitment of 11 positions. Also in this country, and aimed at fostering labour Also in Brazil, as part of a support program of cash inclusion, UNHCR and ILO co-hosted a presentation transfers to population of concern to UNHCR, some 1,636 on market assessment to the National Roundtable for people (547 households) received a total of USD 118,000. Labour Migration presided by the Ministry of Labour. Of them, 94% of the beneficiaries receiving transfers Recommendations were made on how to integrate were Venezuelan households, while 6% correspond to Venezuelans into the formal labour markets. nationals from different countries. In Colombia, UNHCR promoted the inclusion into the In Santiago de Chile, UNHCR and its partner World Vision labour market of Venezuelans through activities in several continued reinforcing child protection initiatives, and regions. In Antioquia, UNHCR and partners held a job fair opened a second child-friendly space/ day-care centre, reaching 2,100 people (1,300 of whom were Venezuelans) which will have the capacity to host some 25 children and with employment opportunities across different sectors. parents. The centre will provide psychosocial support, Additionally, in the city of Medellin, 249 participants of orientation and integral support to Venezuelan families the “Graduation Model” pilot program completed certified who have just arrived in the country. vocational training. In Norte de Santander, UNHCR Focused on children integration, in Guyana, UNHCR held and government partners organized a breakfast for 15 graduation ceremonies for children who participated in its companies that are members of the National Business community-based English as a Second Language classes Federation to disseminate information about the legal in Mabaruma (bordering Venezuela) in 2019. Whit some framework to employ Venezuelans as well as share good 450 persons attending the graduation ceremonies, these practices from the private sector. events demonstrated the communities’ active support To promote inclusion, community activities are also key. In Lima (Peru), more than 600 volunteers from various countries joined forces and cleaned three kilometres of the Rimac River, collecting two tons of waste. This mega event was led by the Gracias Brigade, a group of Venezuelan volunteers, within the framework of the #TuCausaEsMiCausa campaign co-led by UNHCR and OIM. UNHCR Colombia’s anti-xenophobia campaign Somos Panas partnered with UNICEF to produce a TV series 26,800 birth certificates titled Friends Without Borders aimed at children between of Venezuelan children 6-12 years-old. The series tells stories of friendships marked “valid to demonstrate between Colombian and Venezuelan children, promoting nationality” in Colombia. tolerance regardless of nationality or country of origin. The Ecuadorian UNHCR's financial requirements 2019 for the Constitutional Court Venezuela Situation (7 January 2020) issued a decision for FUNDING UPDATE | 2019 non-detention of a person for his or her migratory situation. $158.2 million required Paraguay recognized 720 VENEZUELA $158.2 millionVenezuelans as refugees. 81%80% Tightly earmarked SITUATION Earmarked UNHCR's financial requirements 2019 1 funded 2 as of 9 December 2019 Softly earmarked (indicative allocation) TightlyUnearmarked earmarked (indicative allocation) Brazil recognized 21,432 Earmarked SoftlyFunding earmarked gap (indicative) (indicative allocation) asylum-seekers as refugees. Unearmarked (indicative allocation) Funding gap (indicative) CONTRIBUTIONS 3 | USD Unearmarked Softly Earmarked Tightly Total earmarked earmarked United States of America - 18,836,748 39,836,380 - 58,673,128 European Union - - - 15,799,761 15,799,761 Japan - 903,016 - 6,596,359 7,499,375 Germany - 7,227,166 - - 7,227,166 CERF - - - 3,757,735 3,757,735 Italy - 368,098 1,827,090 - 2,195,188 Canada - 1,519,757 - - 1,519,757 Austria - - 1,141,553 - 1,141,553 Ireland - 1,122,334 - - 1,122,334 Brazil - - 1,069,233 - 1,069,233 USA for UNHCR - 1,000,000 - - 1,000,000 Rituals Cosmetics Enterprise BV - - - 789,967 789,967 France - - 750,000 - 750,000 New Zealand - 666,628 - - 666,628 Norway - 574,977 - - 574,977 Sweden - 549,995 - - 549,995 Switzerland - - 504,032 - 504,032 Republic of Korea - - 500,000 - 500,000 Private donors Germany - 423,993 - 37,716 461,709 Private donors Spain - 441,832 - - 441,832 Miscellaneous donors in Canada - 266,442 - - 266,442 Iceland - 249,314 - - 249,314 Colombia - - 106,323 - 106,323 Czechia - 101,523 - - 101,523 UN Children Fund - - - 22,334 22,334 Miscellaneous private donors - 168,025 100 55,903 224,029 Sub-total - 34,419,848 45,734,711 27,059,775 107,214,334 Indicative allocation of funds and adjustments 2,529,223 13,118,531 6,256,885 (2,003,967) 19,900,671 Total 2,529,223 47,538,378 51,991,596 25,055,808 127,115,005 Methodology: Unearmarked funding is allocated and reallocated multiple times during the year to allow UNHCR to fund prioritised activities. This funding update includes an indicative allocation of funds so as to accurately represent the resources available for the situation. The contributions earmarked for the Venezuela Situation shown above are combined with an indicative allocation of the softly earmarked and unearmarked contributions listed below. This allocation respects different levels of earmarking. Adjustments relate to programme support costs and carry-over. OTHER SOFTLY EARMARKED CONTRIBUTIONS 4 | USD United States of America 32.7 million | Private donors Australia 12.5 million | Private donors USA 2.7 million | Private donors Republic of Korea 2.6 million | Canada 2.3 million | Switzerland 2 million Germany | International Organization for Migration | Luxembourg | Norway | Republic of Korea | Private donors UNEARMARKED CONTRIBUTIONS 5 | USD UNHCR Division of External Relations 1 of 2 December 2019 AMERICAS MONTHLY REPORT INSIDE VENEZUELA In order to support national institutions such as the Office of the Ombudsperson, the Prosecutor’s Office, the Civil Registry or the Children Protection Council, UNHCR in