ECOWAS/ECCAS: Regional Model Law on the Determination of Statelessness, the Protection of Stateless Persons and the Facilitation of Their Naturalization
Published: 1/May/2023
Source: ECOWAS/ECCAS/UNHCR
Preamble
The Member States of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) and Economic Community of Central African States (ECCAS), with technical support from the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR),
- Committed to the implementation of Action 6 of the Global Action Plan to End Statelessness aimed at granting protection status to stateless migrants and facilitate their naturalization.
- Following up on Resolution No. 16 of the Abidjan Declaration of ECOWAS States, stating that, we undertake to implement appropriate measures to enable stateless persons to have a legal status in accordance with the 1954 Convention and with other international human rights standards, and thus enable them to live in dignity.
- Recalling objective 3.1 of the Banjul Plan of Action of ECOWAS on The Eradication of Statelessness 2017 – 2024, aimed at Determining / Recognizing / Granting status to stateless persons.
- Building on Resolution No. 1 of the Ndjamena Initiative of the Economic and Monetary Community of Central Africa States (CEMAC) expressing their support for UNHCR’s global campaign #IBelong to end statelessness by 2024.
- Concerned by the growing number of stateless persons or persons at risk of being stateless in their respective sub- regions.
- Desirous of developing an effective status for stateless persons.
- Desirous to have a source of inspiration that can help them develop their internal texts/laws for the protection of stateless persons or applicants for recognition of such status.
- Considering that ECOWAS, ECCAS and UNHCR have on various occasions, expressed their profound concern for stateless persons. and endeavoured to assure them the widest possible exercise of their fundamental rights and freedom.
- Desirous of protecting, regulating, and improving the status of stateless persons in ECOWAS and ECCAS sub-regions.
AGREE AS FOLLOWS:
Download (English & French): https://www.refworld.org/legal/modellaw/unhcr/2023/en/124310