On 2 November, UNHCR convened an online lecture
on nationality and statelessness for university
students in Turkmenistan. Students were acquainted
with the international standards on nationality
and statelessness, causes and consequences of
statelessness, strategies to address statelessness,
and remaining reforms and other steps needed to
end statelessness in Central Asia.
In September, UNHCR and the National Institute of
Migration of the Dominican Republic launched the
second edition of the study program “Asylum Law,
refugee status and nationality” for staff from relevant
State institutions, civil society, and academia.
Statelessness and the right to nationality was
introduced in this year’s program. The program is
accredited by the Dominican Republic.
On 13 November, a National Action Plan to End
Statelessness (NAP) was finalized in Uganda during
a working group meeting convened by UNHCR
and the Ministry of Internal Affairs. The NAP will be
officially launched in 2021 and then implemented by
the National Taskforce on Statelessness.
In December, UNHCR and the Royal Thai
Government distributed a Handbook on Nationality
and Civil Registration to over 2,500 civil registration
offices in 77 provinces across Thailand. The
handbook was jointly developed by UNHCR and
the Royal Thai Government and provides practical
guidance in applying civil registration law and
procedures.
On 23 October, the annual General Assembly of
the Latin American and Caribbean Council for Civil
Registration, Identity and Vital Statistics resulted
in the adoption of a declaration which includes 1)
a commitment by member States to implement
projects to eradicate statelessness, especially
in the context of large movements of refugees
and migrants, and 2) a commitment to consider
implementation of recommendations from the
“Regional Guideline to guarantee effective access
to late birth registration and the issuance of identity
documents that prove nationality”.
On 14 December, UNHCR organized a webinar
on preventing and mitigating the impact of
statelessness on the life of affected individuals in
Asia-Pacific that was attended by representatives
from NGOs working on statelessness at global,
regional and national levels. During the webinar,
participants explored how UNHCR and NGOs
can improve their collaboration on statelessness,
particularly in addressing root causes and providing
protection to stateless individuals.
On October 21, the General Assembly of the
Organization of American States adopted a
resolution on the promotion and protection of
human rights. The General Assembly urges States to
reaffirm their commitment to eradicate statelessness;
to continue to move forward in implementing the
actions reflected in the Brazil Plan of Action of 2014;
and to support the global #IBelong Campaign to
eradicate statelessness by 2024.
On 1 November, a Joint Submission to the Committee
on the Rights of the Child pertaining to South Africa
was submitted by Lawyers for Human Rights, the
Institute on Statelessness and Inclusion, Scalabrini
Centre of Cape Town and the Centre for Child Law.
The report assesses South Africa’s compliance with
the child’s right to a nationality enshrined in the
Convention on the Rights of the Child.
On 2 December, Lawyers for Human Rights, in
collaboration with Pro Bono.Org, hosted a virtual
training on “Access to Nationality and Statelessness
in South Africa” for over 20 lawyers. The purpose of
the training was to capacitate lawyers across South
Africa to provide legal assistance to persons affected
by statelessness. At the conclusion of the training,
all the lawyers were invited to join the South African
Network on Statelessness (“SANS”).
On 18 December, the Inter-American Commission
on Human Rights (IACHR) published a report
on guaranteeing due process in refugee and
statelessness status determination procedures.
The report compiles international standards and
best practices and as such may serve as a useful
reference document for governmental authorities
charged with processing applications for status
determination, as well as civil society organizations
and refugees and stateless persons themselves.
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