Childhoods in Transit in the Amazon: The Right to Integral Protection and the Challenges of Migration Governance

Abstract

This article analyzes, from a legal and interdisciplinary perspective, the situation of migrant and refugee children and adolescents in the Amazon region, focusing on the effectiveness of the principle of integral protection enshrined in the Federal Constitution, the Statute of the Child and Adolescent, and international human rights treaties. The research is based on the hypothesis that, despite the existence of a protective legal framework, structural, logistical, and cultural barriers continue to hinder the full realization of fundamental rights for these hypervulnerable individuals. The methodology is deductive, with a qualitative approach supported by bibliographic and documentary review, analysis of national and international jurisprudence, and the use of empirical data from organizations such as UNHCR, UNICEF, IBGE, CONARE, and the CNJ. The findings highlight: (i) the gap between legal norms and the Amazonian reality; (ii) the lack of coordinated public policies targeting children in mobility; and (iii) the urgent need for governance strategies sensitive to the region’s geographic, linguistic, and cultural diversity. It concludes that ensuring integral protection for these children requires not only normative reaffirmation, but also concrete implementation through interinstitutional cooperation, intercultural inclusion, and the strengthening of reception and integration networks.