IMPACT & ROADMAP FOR CHANGE “ The impact report … draw[s] much-needed attention to matters affecting stateless persons in these challenging times. We welcome your partnership in this regard and commend your advocacy for the human rights of vulnerable communities.” Filippo Grandi, UN High Commissioner for Refugees RESEARCH AND RESOURCES TO SPOTLIGHT STRUCTURAL DISCRIMINATION The work of the Consortium has given us insight into how the pandemic unfolded, how states and societies responded and how stateless communities and those whose nationality is at risk, have been affected. The work of Consortium members serves as a rich source of information and evidence to better understand the impacts of the pandemic and the structural discrimination at the root of the exclusion and marginalisation of stateless communities. This work also served as a testing ground of ideas and innovations, of what can and must be done in response. EVIDENCE BASED ADVOCACY: THE TOGETHER WE CAN REPORT AND ROADMAP In June 2021, the CESF Consortium published the Together We Can Report. Grounded on information and experiences shared by Consortium members in 13 countries, this report documented many hard-hitting impacts of the pandemic on stateless people. It also showcased important initiatives by stateless groups and set out a roadmap for change. Key findings included: • • • • • Rights violations against the stateless were exacerbated by the pandemic, with life and death implications. Lack of citizenship, precarious legal status and lack of documents impact access to relief, healthcare, vaccinations, work & justice. Lazy and cynical narratives have been rehashed to scapegoat, blame and punish stateless people for the spread of the virus. High costs and fear of authorities further obstruct access to life-saving healthcare, undermining public health. Government, UN and other agencies have generally failed to recognise and address the specific challenge of statelessness. “ This report reminds us that stateless people were among the most vulnerable before COVID-19 hit the world, and remain so during the pandemic, as their conditions worsen. This, once more, should move us to action. If we want to truly leave no one behind, we ought to … expand global and regional capacities to meet the needs of stateless people and make inclusion and integration a reality for everyone”. Santino Severoni, Director of Global Health and Migration, World Health Organisation Report Launch Events in 2021 Media & Audio-Visual Coverage & Materials • 15 JUNE • Briefing for Diplomats & UN Agencies 17 JUNE • Impact Report global launch • 18 JUNE • Dominican Republic launch • 21 JUNE • Asia Pacific regional launch 29 JULY • India launch Millions of stateless people left behind by COVID-19 vaccine campaigns. London opens vaccine clinic for undocumented migrants after report exposes COVID-19 impact on refugees. Refugees in India, elsewhere, it hard by COVID-19 impact – rights report. Stateless people face COVID-19 scapegoating, persecution and exclusion. Podcast entitled “Who gets forgotten when we all get vaccinated?” Statelessness in a Pandemic. New report on the impacts of coronavirus on stateless people lays out a roadmap for change. • • • • 16