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JRS Portugal -
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Political
Developments
A number of important changes were made to Portuguese
migration law in 2007. In May, the National Council of
Ministers published a plan promoting the integration of
migrants. The plan offered assistance to all migrants,
including access to healthcare or social support,
regardless of their status in Portugal.
A new Immigration Act was implemented in November 2007.
The act was designed to end regularisation problems
experienced by many migrants and develop new ways of
ensuring migrants are better integrated into Portuguese
society.
JRS Activities
In April, JRS Portugal
moved into a new office provided by the City Council of
Lisbon. This new space helped to improve the help and
support offered to migrants by JRS Portugal.
Based on early statistics, it is estimated that JRS
Portugal supported approximately 5,500 people in 2007.
As in 2006, the majority of JRS’ beneficiaries were
migrants from Eastern Europe countries (Ukraine,
Moldavia and Russia), from Portuguese Speaking Countries
in Africa (Angola, Guinea, Mozambique) and from Brazil.
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Social Assistance
The Pedro
Arrupe Centre provided shelter and support for 114 migrants in
humanitarian need. The majority of applications for
accommodation in the Centre came from migrants who arrived in
Portugal under health agreements between their governments and
the Portuguese Government and then, during and/or after medical
treatment, became homeless.
The social aid office provided emergency social support to:
undocumented migrants, the homeless, migrants with alcohol
problems and other illnesses, single mothers/fathers, and the
unemployed. During 2007, 205 persons received support from the
social aid office. Visits were also made outside of the centre.
A religious order provided lunch and dinner to socially
vulnerable migrants, serving approximately 100 meals a day.
UHSA (Unidade Habitacional de Santo António) is a temporary
centre for irregular migrants who receive an order for removal
from Portuguese territory. This centre is managed by the
Portuguese Border and Alien Service. In 2007 around 300 people
passed through the centre, mainly from Brazil, Morocco and
Ukraine. JRS Portugal provided social, psychological, cultural
and religious support to irregular migrants in the centre.
Approximately 85 migrants were seem by the volunteer doctor in
the Medical Aid Office. In addition to direct appointments, the
office also provided referrals to specialists in other fields
such as dentistry, psychiatry, gynecology etc.
During 2007 JRS commenced a psychological support project. The
service was initially offered part-time and then, following the
appointment of a clinical psychologist, operated on a full-time
basis. Between January and August 2007, 11 individuals received
a total of 40 sessions. From September to December, however, the
number rose to 18 and the number of sessions to 70.
The project helped to identify a relationship between the
psychological distress presented by the migrants and their
social, medical and legal situation. For this reason, being able
to provide a multidisciplinary response to clients’ needs was a
major strength for JRS Portugal.
Integration
JRS Portugal ran a number of projects aimed at integrating
migrants and refugees into Portuguese life. In 2007, 45 migrant
nurses successfully participated in the Recognition for
Qualification of Nurses project. The UNIVA project, a
collaboration between governmental agencies and NGOs, provided
support for young people and adults by helping them to solve
integration and employment problems. In 2007, UNIVA interviewed
2,751 migrants. The main referral areas for employment were:
construction, housekeeping and care services.
The Local Centre for Migrant Support offered information and
materials to help welcome and integrate migrants. The centre
offered information on legalisation, the renewal of documents,
requests for Portuguese nationality, education, health rights,
and voluntary return. In 2007, 712 individuals visited the Local
Centre. The Local Centre was also a source of information for
many Portuguese employers.
In October, 91 migrants participated in Portuguese classes run
by volunteers from JRS Portugal.
Awareness Raising
During
2007, the ‘Welcome to our country’ project ended. The main
objectives of the project were to encourage positive attitudes
and community building in order to support better integration,
to raise awareness of migrant issues and encourage reflection
about them within the school community. In total, around 40
schools were visited and 2,000 people were involved in the
sessions.
JRS Portugal participated in several debates and conferences,
and occasionally, in events promoted by the printed media, radio
and television. A quarterly newsletter was distributed to about
1800 people.
Contact Details
Mr Andre Jorge, Country Director
Serviço Jesuíta aos Refugiados, Rua 8, ao Alto do Lumiar Lote 59
1750 Lisboa
Tel: +351 93 754 1620 - Tel/Fax: +351 21 754 1625
portugal(a)jrs.net
To send an email, just replace the (a) with @.
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