2. Speeches by Organizations
E C O WA S
3
confirmed its commitment
to guarantee the right to
nationality and combat
statelessness,
particularly
in
the context of its
Strategic Plan and
its 2020 Vision.
It
acknowledged
the necessity to
redefine community
citizenship.
of the Secretary General for
West Africa5 stressed that
actions against statelessness
should be carried out by
The ECOWAS Court of
Justice6 insisted on the
obsolete nature of the
Protocol on community
citizenship
due to the fact
that it does not
allow for dual
citizenship, and
does not address
statelessness
issues.
The
Court indicated
that violations
of the right to
nationality by a
member State
fall within its
jurisdiction.
U N H C R 4
underlined
the
nexus
between
statelessness,
States
security
and development.
The
African
It called for an
Commission
approach based on
on Human and
multi partnership
Speech by S.E. M. Alassane Ouattara
Peoples’ rights7
to end statelessness, and President of the Republique of Côte d’Ivoire
stressed the importance
it supported the adoption
UN agencies under the
of adopting an additional
of a Protocol on the right to
leadership of UNHCR. It
Protocol to the African
nationality, additional to the
also highlighted the need to
Charter on Human and
African Charter on Human
integrate stateless persons’
People’s Rights on the right
and People’s Rights.
needs in humanitarian
to nationality.
responses.
The Special Representative
ECOWAS was represented by the Commissioner in charge of Social Affairs during the experts segment and by the Vice President of the Commission during the ministerial segment.
4
UNHCR was represented by the Deputy Director of the Division of International Protection during the experts segment, and by the High Commissioner during the ministerial segment
5
Mr Chambas
6
Represented by the President of the Court, Maria do Céu Monteiro Silva
7
Represented by Commissioner Maya Sahli Fadel, Special Rapporteur on Refugees, Asylum Seekers, Internally displaced persons, and Migrants
3