UNHCR, civil society launch first regional network to address statelessness in east Africa
Published: 20/May/2022
Source: UNHCR
UNHCR, the UN Refugee Agency together with 15 civil society organizations from Kenya, Uganda, Tanzania, Sudan, South Sudan, Sudan, and Rwanda have launched the region’s first statelessness network, to advance ongoing efforts in eradicating statelessness in the region. Comprising human rights and paralegal aid organizations and other civil society actors working with minority communities, the coalition dubbed the ‘Eastern Africa Nationality Network’ seeks to collaborate on regional advocacy efforts towards ending the issue in the region.
The network was launched at the Regional Statelessness Retreat for civil society actors held in Nairobi on 10 and 11 May 2022. During the retreat, representatives from civil society from the Southern Africa Nationality Network shared perspectives on how such a collaboration can support with advocacy to end statelessness. Possible support in advocating for bridging the statelessness legal gaps with governments as well as accessing funding was also discussed by key stakeholders present as well as the UN Special Rapporteur on Minority Issues.
Memorandum of establishment of the network: https://www.unhcr.org/afr/publications/legal/628765664/memorandum-of-the-establishment-of-the-eastern-africa-nationality-network.html