The Universal Declaration of Human Rights, adopted by the UN General Assembly in 1948, provides that: “Everyone has the right to a nationality. No one shall be arbitrarily deprived of his nationality nor denied the right to change his nationality” (Article 15). Since then, the framework of international human rights law has gradually strengthened the rules that ensure that this right is respected and reduce the discretion of states in deciding who are their nationals.
Two early treaties adopted by the UN specifically focus on the right to a nationality: the 1954 Convention relating to the Status of Stateless Persons and the 1961 Convention on the Reduction of Statelessness. In addition, all the international human rights treaties targeting various forms of discrimination mention the right to a nationality.
The African human rights system also provides important guarantees for the right to a nationality, especially in Article 6 of the African Charter on the Rights and Welfare of the Child. A proposed Protocol to the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights would establish detailed guidance on the content of national laws.
GENEVA – The Republic of South Sudan has taken a major step towards eradicating statelessness in the country by acceding yesterday to two key treaties – the 1954 Convention Relating to the Status of Stateless Persons and the 1961 Convention […]
Extracts relevant to Africa: • The new Global Alliance to End Statelessness, set to be officially launched on 14 October at the high-level segment on statelessness, has already garnered support and membership of over 80 entities (States, regional organizations, UN, […]
Foreword Ending statelessness within 10 years. That was the ambition when we launched the #IBelong campaign in 2014. By raising awareness and mobilizing global support around that ambition, we aimed to address a largely invisible crisis: that of millions of […]
In a first-of-its-kind event, UNHCR, the UN Refugee Agency, together with subject matter experts Mr. Ibrahima Kane and Dr. Bronwen Manby, hosted a continental meeting to discuss next steps towards the ratification of the Protocol to the African Charter on […]
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 […]
By Bronwen Manby On 17 February 2024, the Assembly of Heads of State and Government of the African Union (AU) formally adopted a Protocol to the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights on the Specific Aspects of the Right […]
The African Commission on Human and Peoples’ Rights (the African Commission), welcomes with great satisfaction the adoption of the Protocol to the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights relating to the Specific Aspects of the Right to a Nationality […]
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) […]
GENEVA – UNHCR, the UN Refugee Agency, welcomes the adoption this week of a Protocol by the African Union (AU) Assembly of States to eradicate statelessness and advance inclusion for millions of stateless people on the continent. The Protocol to the […]
By Chidi Odinkalu Last Sunday in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, the Assembly of Heads of State & Govt of the African Union saw off the last sovereign objections from Libya & voted to adopt a new treaty Relating to the Specific […]
By Chidi Anselm Odinkalu This past week in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, the Assembly of Heads of State and Government of the African Union (AU) adopted a new treaty Relating to the Specific Aspects to the Right to a Nationality and […]