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.
Extracts relevant to Africa: Mobilizing Governments and Civil Society On 7 November, the Consolidated Action Plan of the International Conference on the Great Lakes Region (ICGLR) on the Eradication of Statelessness (2017-2024) was validated during a regional inter-ministerial committee meeting.…
Updates including information on the 6th anniversary of the #IBELONG campaign to end statelessness UNHCR Southern Africa Statelessness Newsletter EN Oct-Dec 2020 UNHCR Afrique australe Apatridie Bulletin FR oct-dec 2020 UNHCR IBELONG 6th anniversary Southern Africa
By Bronwen Manby Overview of the report This study seeks to provide a comparative analysis of nationality law and its implementation in SADC Member States and highlight the gaps that allow statelessness; to identify the populations that may be stateless…
By Tshegofatso Mothapo, Statelessness and Citizenship Review, 2(2), 331–337. This case note discusses Kennedy Gihana v Republic of Rwanda, Application No 017/2015 (‘Kennedy’). The case addressed whether the invalidation of the appellants’ passports was an arbitrary deprivation of nationality, rendering…
The Democratic Republic of Congo has deposited the ratification instruments of the African Charter on the Rights and Welfare of the Child (ACRWC). During a ceremony held today at the Headquarters of the African Union Commission (AUC), the Director of…
The International Conference on the Great Lakes Region (ICGLR) have taken a significant step toward eradicating statelessness within the Great Lakes Region as UNHCR marks the 6th anniversary of the Global Campaign to End Statelessness by 2024. During the Regional…
As formally adopted by the Regional Inter-Ministerial Committee meeting of the International Conference on the Great Lakes Region (ICGLR) held in Brazzaville on 7 November 2020 (and originally approved in 2019). Updates the original action plan of 2017-2019. Download: English:…
88th Pre-Sessional Working Group 08 -12 February 2021 The Scalabrini Centre of Cape Town, Lawyers for Human Rights (LHR), the Centre for Child Law and the Institute on Statelessness and Inclusion (the Institute) welcome the opportunity to make this submission…
Update on pledges Awareness and advocacy Issuance of nationality documentation Strengthening birth registration Legislative reform Accession to conventions Protecting stateless people Measuring statelessness Download : https://data2.unhcr.org/en/documents/details/82610
Extracts relevant to Africa: Mobilizing governments and civil society On 26 August, the Minister of Interior of South Sudan endorsed a National Action Plan to End Statelessness (NAP). The NAP includes the accession of South Sudan to the UN Statelessness…