GENEVA – More than half a million people around the world who were living in the shadows, deprived of their right to nationality, have now acquired citizenship since the inception a decade ago of the #IBelong campaign, according to a […]
A new report by the United Nations University Centre for Policy Research (UNU-CPR) and the Freedom Fund reveals the links between lacking official documentation and modern slavery. Without legal identity, people struggle to access basic services and are often driven […]
Extracts relevant to Africa: Action 1: Resolve existing major situations of statelessness In February 2024, in Kenya, UNHCR is reviewed and provided technical feedback on a proposed amendment of the Kenya Citizenship and Immigration Act, aiming to establish a registration […]
Selected extracts relevant to Africa: Highlights The Republic of Congo officially joined the 1954 and 1961 Statelessness Conventions, fulfilling a commitment made at the 2019 High-Level Segment on Statelessness. Sao Tome and Principe’s President signed a decree for the country’s […]
Nationality laws which do not grant women equality with men in conferring nationality on their children are a cause of statelessness and a concern for UNHCR.1 Since 2012, UNHCR has issued an annual background note on gender equality in provisions […]
Extracts relevant to Africa: Kenya recognized 7,000 Pemba individuals as citizens, granting them official documents. This ensures their rights and access to public services and opportunities. In Malawi, the Ministry of Home Affairs, officially adopted a National Action Plan (NAP) […]
Extracts relevant to Africa: In Côte d’Ivoire, the Department of Aid and Assistance to Refugees and Stateless Persons drafted and validated standard operating procedures(SOPs) for the implementation of the statelessness determination procedure during a workshop on 26 and 27 April. […]
Le photographe National Geographic William Daniels a enquêté pour donner un visage aux millions de personnes apatrides, dont les existences ne sont reconnues par aucun État. Ce sont des ombres. Des cohortes fantomatiques d’hommes, de femmes et d’enfants sans existence légale, […]
Extracts relevant to Africa: Action 1: Resolve existing major situations of statelessness The Government of Kenya formally recognized the Pemba as an ethnic community and therefore citizens of Kenya through a Gazette Notice on 30 January. It instructs authorities to […]
UNHCR press release: Geneva summit garners action to tackle gender discriminatory nationality laws Webpage for the summit. Download interventions from African states and NGOs: Address by Mrs. Williametta E. Saydee-Tarr, Minister of Gender, Children & Social Protection, Liberia Remarks by […]
Nationality laws which do not grant women equality with men in conferring nationality on their children are a cause of statelessness and a concern for UNHCR. Since 2012, UNHCR has, in line with its mandate to prevent and reduce statelessness, […]
By Maja Lazić While there is a clear, legal definition of statelessness, the real number of stateless people in the world is not as clear, and the reality of their lives even less visible. Without citizenship of any country, stateless people […]