Until the Second World War, the grant and withdrawal of nationality was regarded as being wholly within the sovereign discretion of states. Since the Universal Declaration on Human Rights first provided for the right to a nationality in 1948, the international human rights framework has increasingly restricted that discretion.
The 1954 Convention relating to the Status of Stateless Persons provides for the protection of stateless persons in a similar framework to that established for refugees; while the 1961 Convention on the Reduction of Statelessness establishes certain basic rules to avoid statelessness at birth and in case of loss or deprivation of nationality.
The International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights and the Convention on the Rights of the Child, both provide for every child to have the right to acquire a nationality. In addition, all the international human rights treaties targeting various forms of discrimination mention the right to a nationality, including the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women, the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racism, the Convention on the Rights of All Migrant Workers and Members of their Families, and the Convention on the Rights of All Persons with Disabilities.
More information on the international standards and actions against statelessness can be found on the UNHCR website, including a set of important Guidelines on Statelessness and Good Practices Papers for states. In 2014, UNHCR launched the #IBelong campaign to end statelessness in ten years.
By Bronwyn Davids Cape Town – The UN Committee of the Rights of the Child has castigated South Africa for not changing its Birth and Death Registration Act which discriminates against children born in this country to foreign parents. It…
In February, West Africa celebrated the 2nd Anniversary of the Abidjan Declaration, a regional commitment in support of the global campaign to end statelessness. Activities took place across the region, ranging from TV shows, University debates, press releases and visual…
Summary of developments in the #ibelong campaign to end statelessness around the world, including, from Africa: In July in Southern Africa, the Southern Africa Trade Union Coordination Council, the Rosa Luxemburg Foundation and UNHCR hosted a capacity building workshop on…
CRC/C/ZAF/CO/2 Concluding observations on the second periodic report of South Africa Extract : Birth registration, name and nationality 29. The Committee welcomes the substantial increase of birth registration in the State party. However the Committee is concerned that: (a) Administrative…
With information on the latest in the #IBELONG campaign, including events and developments in West and Southern Africa, as well as Ethiopia, Kenya, Malawi, Cote d’Ivoire, South Africa, Mali, Sierra Leone and Senegal. Download file here.
Action 6 of the Global Action Plan calls on States to grant protection status to stateless migrants through the establishment of statelessness determination procedures, and facilitate their naturalization. A statelessness determination procedure serves to identify stateless persons among migrant populations…
Reports on the first anniversary of the Abidjan Declaration to end statelessness in West Africa, as well as a meeting of the Migration Dialogue for Southern Africa and a January 2016 Memorandum of Understanding between the Southern Africa Trade Union…
Action 9 of the Global Action Plan calls on States to accede to the UN Statelessness Conventions. Statelessness remains a significant global issue even though two international treaties exist to prevent and reduce the phenomenon and protect stateless persons. The…
Premier conseil des ministres du gouvernement Modibo KEITA Le Conseil des Ministres s’est réuni en session ordinaire, le samedi 18 avril 2015 dans sa salle de délibérations au Palais de Koulouba sous la présidence du Premier ministre, Chef du Gouvernement,…
Action 3 of the Global Action Plan calls on States to remove gender discrimination from nationality laws. The attainment of gender equality in nationality laws worldwide would constitute a major step forward in preventing statelessness. International human rights law provides…