Statelessness
In this section
Introduction
Today, millions of people around the world are stateless. A stateless person does not have the nationality of any country. Some people are born stateless, but others become stateless. As a result, they often aren't allowed to go to school, see a doctor, get a job, open a bank account, buy a house or even get married.
#IBelong Campaign to End Statelessness by 2024
#IBelong Campaign to End Statelessness: Accelerating Action in the Final Two Years of the Campaign, UNHCR , November 2022
High-Level Segment on Statelessness: Results and Highlights, May 2020
"This is Our Home" Stateless Minorities and their Search for Citizenship, UNHCR, 3 November 2017
Statelessness and the Rohingya Crisis, UNHCR, 10 November 2017
I Am Here, I Belong: The Urgent Need to End Childhood Statelessness, UNHCR, 3 November 2015 (also available in French & Spanish)
Global Action Plan to End Statelessness, UNHCR, 4 November 2014
Special Report – Ending Statelessness, 4 November 2014 (also available in French & Spanish)
List of 1954 Convention States Parties & 1961 Convention States Parties & Map of States parties to the 1954 & 1961 Conventions
Ministerial Intergovernmental Event on Refugees and Stateless Persons - Pledges 2011, October 2012
#IBelong Campaign Updates
- July-September 2023
- April-June 2023
- January-March 2023
- October-December 2022
- July-September 2022
- April-June 2022
- January-March 2022
- October – December 2021
- July – September 2021
- April 2021 - June 2021
- January 2021 - March 2021
- October 2020 - December 2020
- July 2020 - September 2020
- April 2020 - June 2020
- January 2020 - March 2020
- October 2019 - December 2019
- July - October 2019
- April - June 2019
- January - March 2019
- October – December 2018
- July 2018
- April 2018
- December 2017
- October 2017
- July 2017
- April 2017
- December 2016
- October 2016
- July 2016
- April 2016
- December 2015
- September 2015
- May 2015
- January 2015
Good Practices Papers
Action 1: Resolving Existing Major Situations of Statelessness, UNHCR, 16 August 2022
Action 2: Ensuring that no child is born stateless, UNHCR, 20 March 2017
Action 3: Removing Gender Discrimination from Nationality Laws, March 2015
Action 6: Establishing Statelessness Determination Procedures to Protect Stateless Persons, UNHCR, July 2020
Action 7: Ensuring birth registration for the prevention of statelessness, UNHCR, November 2017
Action 9: Acceding to the UN Statelessness Conventions, UNHCR, 28 April 2015
Campaign Website
National Legislation Relating to Nationality, Citizenship and Statelessness
Legal Documents Related to Statelessness
Conventions
UN General Assembly
- Convention Relating to the Status of Stateless Persons, 28 September 1954
- Convention on the Reduction of Statelessness, 30 August 1961
International
- Calls for accession to the statelessness conventions by the UN General Assembly and international and regional bodies, UNHCR, July 2013
- Extracts relating to nationality and statelessness from selected universal and regional human rights instruments, UNHCR, November 2009
- Articles on Nationality of Natural Persons in relation to the Succession of States, International Law Commission, 3 April 1999
- Extracts of selected General Comments and Recommendations of the United Nations Human Rights Treaty Bodies relating to nationality and statelessness, UNHCR, November 2009
- General recommendation No. 32 on the gender-related dimensions of refugee status, asylum, nationality and statelessness of women, CEDAW, CEDAW/C/GC/32, 5 November 2014
- United Nations General Assembly Resolutions of particular relevance to statelessness and nationality, updated 16 May 2014
- Human Rights Council resolutions relating to nationality and statelessness (from 2006)
- Commission on Human Rights resolutions on arbitrary deprivation of nationality (until 2006)
- Compilation of recommendations relating to statelessness made during the first cycle (1st - 12th sessions) of the Human Rights Council's Universal Periodic Review, UNHCR, 11 July 2013
- Compilation of recommendations relating to statelessness made during the Second Cycle (13th - 16th sessions) of the Human Rights Council's Universal Periodic Review, UNHCR, 11 July 2013
- Statement on Parliamentary Action in Support of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) and Refugee Protection, IPU, 20 April 2011
Regional
Africa
- Action Plan of the International Conference on the Great Lakes Region (ICGLR) on the eradication of statelessness 2017-2024, ICGLR, January 2020 (also available in Arabic, French, & Portuguese)
- Declaration of International Conference on the Great Lakes Region (ICGLR) Member States on the Eradication of Statelessness, 16 October 2017 (also available in Arabic, French, & Portuguese)
Banjul Plan of Action of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) on Eradication of Statelessness 2017 – 2024, ECOWAS, 2017 (also available in French & Portuguese)
Joint Statement of the ECOWAS Ministers responsible for nationality matters on the Ministerial Meeting for the Validation and Adoption of the Banjul Plan of Action to Eradicate Statelessness in the ECOWAS Region, ECOWAS, 9 May 2017 (also available in French & Portuguese)
Abidjan Declaration of Ministers of ECOWAS Member States on Eradication of Statelessness, UNHCR & ECOWAS, 25 February 2015 (also available in French & Portuguese)
Conclusion and Recommendations of the Ministerial Conference on Statelessness in the ECOWAS Region, UNHCR & ECOWAS, 25 February 2015 (also available in French)
General Comment on Article 6 of the African Charter on the Rights and Welfare of the Child, African Committee of Experts on the Rights and Welfare of the Child, 16 April 2014 (also available in French)
Banjul Appeal on Statelessness, UNHCR, 6 December 2013
Resolution on the Right to Nationality, African Commission on Human and Peoples' Rights, 23 April 2013
Recommendations of the African Union Symposium on "Citizenship in Africa: Preventing Statelessness, Preventing Conflicts", African Union, 24 October 2012
Americas
- Brazil Declaration and Plan of Action: A Framework for Cooperation and Regional Solidarity to Strengthen the International Protection of Refugees, Displaced and Stateless Persons in Latinn America and the Caribbean , 3 December 2014 (also available in French, Spanish & Portuguese)
- Organization of America States: Resolutions on Prevention and Reduction of Statelessness and Protection of Stateless Persons in the Americas, 2010-2014
Asia
- Joint Conclusions of the 2nd Regional Conference on the Right to Legal Identity and Prevention of Statelessness: Leaving No One Behind at Birth, UNHCR, 5-6 September 2019
- Joint Conclusions to Prevent Statelessness by Birth Registration of All Children Born in the Countries of Central Asia, 8 June 2018
Europe
- European Convention on Nationality, Council of Europe, 6 November 1997
- Convention on the Avoidance of Statelessness in Relation to State Succession, Council of Europe, 15 March 2006
- European Parliament resolution of 25 October 2016 on human rights and migration in third countries, European Union: European Parliament, 25 October 2016
- Conclusions of the Council and the Representatives of the Governments of the Member States on Statelessness, European Union: Council of the European Union, 4 December 2015
- Recommendations of the Committee of Ministers to Member States on the Avoidance and Reduction of Statelessness, Council of Europe: Committee of Ministers
- Resolutions, Recommendations and Reports on nationality, Council of Europe: Parliamentary Assembly
Middle East and North Africa
- Arab Declaration on Belonging and Legal Identity, League of Arab States, 28 February 2018 (also available in Arabic)
- First Arab Conference on Good Practices & Regional Opportunities to Strengthen Women's Nationality Rights, Secretariat General, League of Arab States, 1-2 October 2017 - Final Declaration 2 October 2017
Statelessness Policy and Doctrine
Guidelines on Statelessness No. 5: Loss and Deprivation of Nationality under Articles 5-9 of the 1961 Convention on the Reduction of Statelessness, UNHCR, May 2020
Handbook on Protection of Stateless Persons, UNHCR, 30 June 2014
Guidelines on Statelessness No. 4: Ensuring Every Child's Right to Acquire a Nationality through Articles 1-4 of the 1961 Convention on the Reduction of Statelessness, UNHCR, 21 December 2012
Expert Meeting - The Concept of Stateless Persons under International Law ("Prato Conclusions"), UNHCR, May 2010
Expert Meeting - Statelessness Determination Procedures and the Status of Stateless Persons ("Geneva Conclusions"), UNHCR, December 2010
Expert Meeting - Interpreting the 1961 Statelessness Convention and Preventing Statelessness among Children: ("Dakar Conclusions"), UNHCR, September 2011
Expert Meeting - Interpreting the 1961 Statelessness Convention and Avoiding Statelessness resulting from Loss and Deprivation of Nationality ("Tunis Conclusions"), UNHCR, March 2014
Guidance Note of the Secretary General: The United Nations and Statelessness, UN Secretary-General, November 2018
Key Messages on Statelessness, UN Secretary-General, November 2018
Human rights and arbitrary deprivation of nationality: report of the Secretary-General, UN Human Rights Council, December 2009
Human rights and arbitrary deprivation of nationality: report of the Secretary-General , UN Human Rights Council, December 2011
Human rights and arbitrary deprivation of nationality: report of the Secretary-General , UN Human Rights Council, 19 December 2013
Report on discrimination against women on nationality related matters, including the impact on children : Report of the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, OHCHR, 15 March 2013
UNHCR and De Facto Statelessness, UNHCR, April 2010
Resettlement of Non-Refugee Stateless Persons - Extract from the UNHCR Resettlement Handbook 2011, UNHCR, July 2011
Climate Change and Statelessness: An Overview, UNHCR, May 2009
Convention relating to the Status of Stateless Persons. Its History and Interpretation, commentary by Nehemiah Robinson (Institute of Jewish Affairs, World Jewish Congress), 1955 (re-printed by the Division of International Protection, 1997)
UNHCR ExCom and Standing Committee
ExCom
No. 111 (LXIV) - 2013, Civil Registration, Executive Committee on the High Commissioner´s Programme, 17 October 2013 (also available in French)
No. 106 (LVI) - 2006, Identification, Prevention and Reduction of Statelessness and Protection of Stateless Persons, Executive Committee on the High Commissioner´s Programme, 6 October 2006 (also available in French)
No. 78 (XLVI) - 1995, Prevention and Reduction of Statelessness and Protection of Stateless Persons, Executive Committee on the High Commissioner´s Programme, 20 October 1995 (also available in French)
Other Executive Committee Conclusions related to Statelessness, updated July 2010
All Notes and Progress reports on UNHCR's statelessness activities
Extracts relating to UNHCR's supervisory responsibility for the statelessness conventions
Standing Committee
69th meeting, Update on Statelessness, Executive Committee on the High Commissioner´s Programme, 7 June 2017
63rd meeting, Update on statelessness, Executive Committee on the High Commissioner´s Programme, 3 June 2015
57th meeting, Note on statelessness, Executive Committee on the High Commissioner´s Programme, 4 June 2013
Other Documents Related to Statelessness
Thematic resources
- Addressing Statelessness through the Rule of Law, UNHCR & the IDLO, December 2022
- International Art Contest: Minority Artists Working on Statelessness Themes, Exhibition Catalogue, UNHCR and OHCHR, November 2022
Statelessness and Climate Change Factsheet, UNHCR, October 2021
Quick Guides: Researching Statelessness, UNHCR, March 2021
The Impact of COVID-19 on Stateless Populations: Policy Recommendations and Good Practices, UNHCR, 11May 2020
Effective promotion of the Declaration on the Rights of Persons Belonging to National or Ethnic, Religious and Linguistic Minorities, note by the Secretary-General, A/73/205, UN General Assembly, 20 July 2018
The Sustainable Development Goals and Addressing Statelessness, UNHCR, March 2017 (also available in French)
Kenya Dialogue on Gender Equality, Nationality and Statelessness, UNHCR & the Kenya Human Rights Commission, 23 March 2015
First Global Forum on Statelessness: New Directions in Research and Policy Key Outcomes, UNHCR, 6 October 2014
A Regional Dialogue on Gender Equality, Nationality and Statelessness : Overview and Key Findings, UNHCR & CRTD, January 2012
Refugee Status, Arbitrary Deprivation of Nationality, and Statelessness within the Context of Article 1A(2) of the 1951 Convention and its 1967 Protocol relating to the Status of Refugees, UNHCR, October 2014
Climate Change and the Risk of Statelessness: The Situation of Low-lying Island States, UNHCR, 10 May 2011
Background Notes
On Gender Equality, Nationality Laws and Statelessness UNHCR - 2024, UNHCR, March 2024
On Discrimination in Nationality Laws and Statelessness UNHCR - 2021, UNHCR, October 2021
On Sex Discrimination in Birth Registration UNHCR & UNICEF - 2021, UNHCR and UNICEF, July 2021
Country and Region Specific Situations
Africa
Refugees from Generation to Generation: Preventing Statelessness by Advancing Durable Solutions in the Great Lakes Region, UNHCR, April 2023
Etude sur l'Apatridie et le risque d'Apatridie en République du Niger, UNHCR, April 2023
Statelessness and its Risk in Angola and for Angolans Living Abroad, UNHCR, December 2022
Birth Registration and Statelessness in the Member States of the Southern Africa Development Community, UNHCR, December 2022
Southern African Development Community Road map on the eradication of statelessness 2022 - 2024, Southern African Development Community, August 2022
Citizenship and Statelessness in the Horn of Africa, UNHCR, December 2021
Citizenship and Statelessness in the Member States of the Southern African Development Community, UNHCR, December 2020
Les risques d’apatridie au Mali et pour les Maliens vivant à l’étranger, UNHCR, August 2020
N'Djamena Initiative on the Eradication of Statelessness in Central Africa, UNHCR & CEMAC, December 2018
Statelessness and Citizenship in the East African Community, UNHCR, September 2018
A Study of Statelessness in South Sudan, UNHCR, 2017
Statelessness and Nationality in Côte d'Ivoire - A Study for UNHCR, UNHCR, December 2016
Citizenship Law in Africa: A Comparative Study, Open Society Foundations (OSF), January 2016
Communiqué of the West Africa Consultative Conference on 'the Right to a Nationality and Statelessness: Challenges and Opportunities', 28-30 September 2015, UNHCR & OSIWA, 30 September 2015
Nationality, Migration and Statelessness in West Africa, UNHCR & OIM, June 2015
Summary of the Ministerial regional conference on statelessness in West Africa, 23-25 February 2015, UNHCR & ECOWAS, February 2015
The Right to Nationality in Africa, African Commission on Human and People's Rights, May 2014
Statelessness in Southern Africa, UNHCR, 2012
Sudan Citizenship Symposium - Keynote Address by Ms. Erika Feller, Assistant High Commissioner - Protection, UNHCR, November 2010
Americas
Representing Stateless Persons Before U.S. Immigration Authorities, UNHCR, August 2017
Statelessness in the Canadian Context: An updated discussion paper, UNHCR, March 2012
Citizens of Nowhere: Solutions for the Stateless in the US, UNHCR, December 2012
Asia
Republic of Korea: Comparative Study on Statelessness Determination Procedures, Executive Summary, UNHCR, December 2021
Mapping Statelessness in the Republic of Korea, UNHCR, December 2021
Philippines: Policy Briefs on Identified Legislative Priorities, UNHCR, October 2021
Philippines: Desk Review on Populations at Risk of Statelessness, UNHCR, April 2021
Typology of Stateless Persons in Japan, UNHCR, December 2017
Concluding Statement of the Fifth High-Level Steering Meeting On the Prevention and Reduction of Statelessness in the Kyrgyz Republic, UNHCR, November 2014
Report of the ASEAN Regional Workshop on Statelessness and the Rights of Women and Children, UNHCR & ASEAN Intergovernmental Commission on Human Rights, 19 November 2011
Small Changes - Big Gains: An Action Plan to Prevent and Reduce Statelessness in the Kyrgyz Republic, UNHCR, 2010
Good Practices: Addressing Statelessness in South East Asia, UNHCR, 5 February 2011
Statelessness in Central Asia, UNHCR, May 2011
Overview of Statelessness: International and Japanese Context, UNHCR, April 2010
A Place to Call Home: The Situation of Stateless Persons in the Kyrgyz Republic, UNHCR, 2009
Note on the Nationality Status of the Urdu-speaking Community in Bangladesh, UNHCR, 17 December 2009
Europe
Serbia: Persons at Risk of Statelessness in Serbia, UNHCR, November 2020
Faces of Statelessness in the Czech Republic, UNHCR, December 2020
Statelessness Determination in the UK, UNHCR, December 2020
Mapping Statelessness in Denmark, UNHCR, November 2020
Analysis of the Legal Framework Concerning Stateless Persons and Persons at Risk of Statelessness in Croatia, UNHCR, July 2020
Mapping Statelessness in Poland, UNHCR, September 2019
Résumé et recommandations: L'apatridie en Suisse, UNHCR, November 2018
Mapping of the Population at Risk of Statelessness in Albania, UNHCR, May 2018
Faces of Statelessness in Europe, UNHCR, March 2018
Estonia: Mapping Statelessness in Estonia, UNHCR, 2016
UK: Statelessness and applications for leave to remain: a best practice guide, Immigration Law Practitioners' Association, November 2016
Mapping Statelessness in Austria, UNHCR, January 2017
Persons at risk of statelessness in Serbia: Progress Report 2010-2015, UNHCR, June 2016
Mapping Statelessness in Lithuania, UNHCR, May 2016
Mapping Statelessness in Norway, UNHCR, October 2015
Mapping Statelessness in Iceland, UNHCR, December 2014
Mapping Statelessness in Finland, UNHCR, November 2014
Mapping Statelessness in Malta, UNHCR, August 2014
Scoping Paper: Statelessness in Ireland, UNHCR, October 2014
No Child Should be Stateless, European Network on Statelessness, European Network on Statelessness, September 2015
The Invisible Stateless Persons in Poland - Executive Summary, The Halina Niec Legal Aid Center, December 2013
Mapping Statelessness in Belgium - Summary Report, UNHCR, October 2012
Mapping Statelessness in the United Kingdom, UNHCR, November 2011
Mapping Statelessness in the Netherlands, UNHCR, November 2011
Report on Statelessness in South Eastern Europe, UNHCR, September 2011
Hungary: Statelessness in Hungary: The Protection of Stateless Persons and the Prevention and Reduction of Statelessness, Hungarian Helsinki Committee, December 2010
Middle East and North Africa
Mapping and understanding statelessness in Akkar, UNHCR, December 2021
In Search of Solutions: Addressing Statelessness in the Middle East and North Africa, UNHCR, 2016
Meeting Report: Regional Expert Meeting on the Human Rights of Stateless Persons in the Middle East and North Africa (Amman, 18-19 February 2010), UNHCR and OHCHR, November 2010
Other
Tools
A Community-Based Practitioner's Guide: Documenting Citizenship and Other Forms of Legal Identity, Open Society Justice Initiative and Namati, June 2018
ICERD Quick Reference Guide: Statelessness and Human Rights Treaties, UNHCR & ICERD, July 2017
Stateless Persons in Detention: A tool for their identification and enhanced protection, UNHCR, June 2017
CEDAW Quick Reference Guide: Statelessness and Human Rights Treaties, UNHCR & the Global Campaign for Equal Nationality Rights, April 2017
CRC Convention on the Rights of the Child: Quick Reference Guide - Statelessness and Human Rights Treaties, UNHCR & UNICEF, January 2017
ICCPR International Covenant on Civil And Political Rights: Quick Reference Guide - Statelessness and Human Rights Treaties, UNHCR, October 2016
What is Statelessness?, UNHCR, 2016
UNHCR Action to Address Statelessness: A Strategy Note, March 2010
Good practices in nationality laws for the prevention and reduction of statelessness: Handbook for Parliamentarians N° 29, UNHCR/Inter-Parliamentary Union, November 2018
Nationality and Statelessness: Handbook for Parliamentarians N° 22, UNHCR and the Inter-Parliamentary Union, 23 November 2018 (also available in French)
Ensuring the right of all children to acquire a nationality: Connecting the Dots between the Convention on the Rights of the Child and the Convention on the Reduction of Statelessness, UNHCR, 23 August 2013
Children and Statelessness: Information Package, UNHCR, 23 August 2013
Under the Radar and Under Protected: The Urgent Need to Address Stateless Children's Rights, UNHCR, June 2012
Statelessness determination procedures, Identifying and protecting stateless persons, UNHCR, August 2014
Self-Study Module on Statelessness, UNHCR, 1 October 2012
Statelessness: An Analytical Framework for Prevention, Reduction and Protection, UNHCR, 2008
Protecting the Rights of Stateless Persons: The 1954 Convention relating to the Status of Stateless Persons, UNHCR, March 2014
Preventing and Reducing Statelessness: The 1961 Convention on the Reduction of Statelessness, UNHCR, March 2014
A Guide to Teaching on Statelessness, UNHCR, September 2010
Statelessness Determination and the Protection Status of Stateless Persons, European Network on Statelessness, 2013