Introduction
Citizenship is the key way in which a person is able to act as a member of society. Citizenship is often
needed for a person to work in their home country or to gain the right to work elsewhere. It is often
through a person’s citizenship that they access basic rights like education, health care and social
security. In the way that our world is currently organised, access to citizenship is needed for
participation in sustainable development.
The annual High-Level Political Forum (HLPF) provides a vital moment of reflection on the
implementation of the Sustainable Development Agenda. In this context, two main considerations
regarding access to citizenship arise:
(1) How to ensure that those without access to any citizenship can contribute to and benefit from
global sustainable development efforts;
(2) How sustainable development efforts can produce new ways to ensure that everyone has
access to citizenship.
In July this year, the HLPF is considering six Sustainable Development Goals in particular:
SDG 4 Ensure inclusive and equitable quality education and promote lifelong learning opportunities for
all
SDG 8 Promote sustained, inclusive and sustainable economic growth, full and productive
employment and decent work for all
SDG 10 Reduce inequality within and among countries
SDG 13 Take urgent action to combat climate change and impacts
SDG 16 Promote peaceful and inclusive societies for sustainable development, provide access to justice
for all and build effective, accountable and inclusive institutions at all levels
SDG 17 Strengthen the means of implementation and revitalize the global partnership for sustainable
development
Access to citizenship is relevant to all six of these goals. This document suggests how to start thinking
about access to citizenship in the context of each goal. It also uses these goals to indicate ways in which
access to citizenship could be considered across the Sustainable Development Agenda.
European Network on Statelessness
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May 2019