The UN’s refugee agency, UNHCR, says statelessness has a devastating effect on those left without it and has called for more efforts to combat such exclusion.
“At least 4.4 million people in 95 countries are listed as stateless or undetermined, the agency said in a statement. “It is widely accepted that the global figure is significantly higher due to the relative invisibility of stateless people in national statistical summaries.”
According to UNHCR, stateless people are disproportionately from minority groups, and for them statelessness tends to freeze and exacerbate the discrimination and marginalization they already face.
“While statelessness has many causes, in many cases it can be resolved through simple changes in legislation and policy.” I call on the countries of the world to take immediate measures to ensure that no one is left behind,” said High Commissioner for Refugees Filippo Grandi.
The stateless figures were released by UNHCR to mark the ninth anniversary of the IBelong (I Belong) campaign on these issues.
Kenya, Kyrgyzstan, Moldova, North Macedonia, Portugal and Tanzania are said to have taken important steps to combat statelessness, while Congo has become the latest country to accede to the Convention on the Status of Stateless Persons.
Currently, 97 countries have acceded to the 1954 Convention Relating to the Status of Stateless Persons and 79 to the 1961 Convention on the Reduction of Statelessness.
“Progress in the fight against statelessness is positive and we commend countries for taking action. But that is not enough,” said F. Grandi.
“As global forced displacement grows, millions are left on the margins, deprived of basic human rights, including participation and contribution to society. This separation is wrong and needs to be addressed,” he noted.
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2024-10-05 05:05:37
