“Human Rights Dimensions of Venezuelan Asylum Seekers in Trinidad and Tobago” by Dr Timothy Affonso
What happens when international human rights promises clash with national realities?
In this eye-opening paper, Dr Timothy Affonso dives into the urgent humanitarian and legal crisis surrounding Venezuelan asylum seekers in Trinidad and Tobago. Drawing from international treaties, local laws, and real-world incidents including the tragic killing of a Venezuelan infant by Coast Guard officers this work explores the stark contrast between what should happen and what is actually happening.
Key highlights include:
- A detailed breakdown of how Trinidad and Tobago’s outdated Immigration Act fails to protect refugees, leaving many detained, deported, or criminalised
- The international obligations Trinidad and Tobago has agreed to like the Refugee Convention and how it consistently falls short of meeting them
- The harrowing experiences of women and children, including sexual exploitation, trafficking, and violations of the right to education and safety
- A powerful critique of state inaction, xenophobia, and policy loopholes that allow abuse, mistreatment, and systemic neglect
- Practical solutions to bring domestic laws in line with international human rights standards
This is not just a legal analysis; it is a call to conscience. For policymakers, academics, activists, and citizens alike, it challenges you to consider: what kind of society do we become when we ignore the cries for help from our neighbours?
👉 If you want to understand one of the most pressing human rights issues in the Caribbean today, you need to read this paper.
