UNHCR brochure on statelessness in West Africa
Published: 23/Fév/2015
Source: UNHCR
Nationality is a legal bond between a state and an individual, and statelessness refers to the condition of an individual who is not considered as a national by any State.
Everyone has the right to a nationality and the right to enjoy the protection that this legal bond represents. Statelessness is thus a violation of a fundamental human right.
Statelessness affects at least 10 million people and is a problem that exists in all parts of the world. An estimated 750,000 stateless persons live in the 15 countries that make up the West Africa region. The region is also home to a large population of persons at risk of statelessness. Persons who face difficulties proving the legal bond they share with the State are considered at risk of statelessness. The harder it is for a person to confirm this bond, the higher their risk of statelessness.
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