THE RIGHT TO BELONG: HAITIAN REFUGEES AND THE POLITICS OF DIGNITY IN BRAZIL

The present research aims to analyze the situation of Haitian refugees in Brazil, focusing on the difficulties faced in the process of social, economic, and cultural integration. The guiding question “What is the refugee’s place?” has been the subject of intense discussion, especially in scenarios marked by changes caused by humanitarian crises, political instability, and natural catastrophes. The methodology adopted was based on the analysis of the data provided by the International Organization for Migration (IOM), with a qualitative and quantitative approach to the level of integration of Haitians in Brazilian territory. The recent data of IOM (2022) indicate extremely low indicators of integration: 0, 48% for men and only 0, 37% for women, evidencing a concerning scenario of social exclusion and marginalization. These numbers signal that the existing mechanisms of support for the refugee population prove to be insufficient to promote their full inclusion. It was identified in the literature that the main integration hindering factors were the low level of education, low social integration, and linguistic barriers, the last two being interdependent. Hence, it is proposed an offer of professional training and Portuguese learning courses is proposed, in addition to the implementation of the existing reception strategies, considering the particularities of the Haitian migratory flow and its social implications. Therefore, it is inferred that the research reinforces the importance of discussing, proposing, and implementing more effective strategies of reception that consider the particularities of Haitian migratory flow and its social implications. The conclusion highlights that the debate about the integration of refugees is not only about the well-being of refugees but also has a significant impact on Brazilian society as a whole, challenging the country to rethink its role as a welcoming nation and compromise on human rights.