Bridging law and lived experiences: Focus Groups with Venezuelan Asylum Seekers in Lima

"As part of my DPhil project, five focus groups were conducted in Lima with 28 Venezuelan asylum seekers. This small-scale intervention, carried out in the country that currently hosts the largest number of Venezuelan asylum seekers worldwide, was supported by the NGO Encuentros – Jesuit Refugee Service, which played a key role as a gatekeeper to the Venezuelan community. Thanks to their long-standing relationship with asylum seekers, Encuentros helped facilitate meaningful participation in a context where trust is essential. All participants gave their informed consent — including permission to be photographed — in full awareness of the ethical guidelines for participatory research.

This activity was particularly enriching, as it provided an opportunity to better understand how asylum seekers engage with the legal protection mechanisms available in Peru and how they perceive their short-term future in the country. The focus groups also explored their expectations of the protection process and the ways it affects their daily lives. More than a data collection method, these sessions became spaces for recognition and inclusion, where asylum seekers could share their experiences, express their views, and reflect on the institutional and legal challenges they face in accessing international protection.

The results of the focus groups provided valuable and nuanced insights into the preferences, needs and integration trajectories of Venezuelan asylum seekers in Lima, Peru. By placing their voices at the centre of the research process, the project not only helped to bridge the gap between formal legal frameworks and lived realities but also shed light on the structural barriers that impede access to rights and the resilience strategies that migrants develop to navigate a complex and often precarious legal landscape. This small-scale intervention is a powerful example of how centring asylum seekers' perspectives can inform more effective protection mechanisms and inclusive public policies. Ultimately, it highlights how well-designed legal responses can empower migrants and refugees while generating positive spill-over effects for their communities of origin and host societies alike."

The Burke Knapp Travel Scholarship was established through the generous gift of the late Mr Joseph Burke Knapp, Honorary Fellow of St John's College. The award, of up to £1,400, is made every other year to an undergraduate or graduate member of St John's to cover travel and related expenses in pursuit of development issues in countries defined as 'developing' by the OECD, or a country in which the applicant can make a strong case for the study of development issues.