Venezolanofobia in the South American countries. Three Experiences: Colombia, Ecuador and Perú

Abstract

The migratory exodus of Venezuelans to the South American countries increased vertiginously during the years 2018 and 2019, characterized by low-income Venezuelans and some in illegal status, which brought as a consequence a strong rejection by the residents of the receiving countries, observing in the local and regional news a rebound of xenophobic attacks against Venezuelans in the countries of the Region. It should be noted that these rejection behaviors were exacerbated due to the quarantine implemented in the case study countries to prevent the spread of Covid 19. Hence, the article is the product of a documentary review that aimed to analyze Venezuelan phobia in countries South American (Colombia, Ecuador and Peru). The article concludes that an exponential increase in hatred against Venezuelan migrants in South American countries is evident, blatantly violating their human rights to life, physical integrity, free human mobility, employment, among others, a situation that was aggravated by cause. of the pandemic caused by the coronavirus and the dire economic consequences produced by social distancing and the government order to stay home, in some cases forcing the involuntary return of a group of Venezuelans to their country of origin, due to the impossibility of sustaining them in the receiving countries mentioned above and the exacerbation of hatred and attacks, manifesting in evictions, interruption of basic services (water, electricity) as well as the impossibility of accessing the health system. For this reason, it is recommended to review internal legislation and public social policies, as well as generate regional legislation, while ensuring compliance with the international conventions signed on the subject, and that international and regional organizations advocate that such crimes hate and xenophobic and discriminatory behavior do not go unpunished through the application of corrective measures and corresponding sanctions and a permanent campaign of sensitization and awareness to migrants.