The management of Casa do Brasil wrote a letter to Lula da Silva asking him to get involved in solving the problems of Brazilians in Portugal, as the Brazilian president does not meet with the community. They recall that Lisbon is the largest electoral college abroad and that they gave it “an expressive victory” for the first time. In response, the delegation announced a meeting of the Minister of Human Rights and Citizenship, Silvio Almeida, with the leaders of the association.
Silvio Almeida is one of eight Brazilian government ministers who will be part of the presidential entourage during the visit to Portugal. The meeting is scheduled for this Monday morning at the Casa do Brasil headquarters in Lisbon. The presidential note sent to journalists highlights the 31 years of intervention by the association, the oldest of the Brazilian community in the country.
The same arguments used by Cyntia de Paula (President of the Board) and Ana Paula Costa (Vice President) address President Lula da Silva in the letter sent this Sunday. They refer to their role for the rights of immigrants, namely in the extraordinary regularization of 20,000 Brazilians under the Lula agreement of July 1, 2013. under the program for people from the Community of Lusophone Countries (CPLP).
“To present the situation” of Brazilians and “closer dialogue”, they list six fundamental issues that they would like to involve the “Brazilian government”. The first is the difficulty visiting the general consulates of Brazil, where a birth or marriage certificate with a validity of six months is required for planning.
Call for recognition ofacademic degrees, since “Portuguese universities don’t recognize some courses” and if they do, it takes a long time. The costs for assessing the request are 600 euros and more.
They refer to deterioration of the social situation of Brazilians, which is reflected in requests for support for voluntary returns (immigrants resort most frequently) and for food and housing. They acknowledge the work of the International Organization for Migration Portugal, but that it has been difficult for them to respond quickly given the many requests. They request the cooperation of IOM Brazil.
Regarding the CPLP residence permit, “an extremely important measure”, employers and public and private services complain that they do not recognize the document, in addition to not clarifying whether it can be used in the Schengen area. Rthey also refer to the lack of respect for immigrants’ labor rights.
Finally, they denounce the situations of racism, xenophobia and discrimination against the Brazilian community, what is proven by complaints and investigations.
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Source: DN
