What are the consequences
of statelessness?
Lack of socioeconomic rights:
Poten�al exclusion from educa�on, legal
employment, public healthcare (including
access to COVID-19 vaccines), and other
cri�cal services.
Lack of civil and poli�cal rights:
Exclusion from vo�ng and poli�cal
par�cipa�on, lack of freedom of
movement, lack of legal recourse, and risk
of deten�on.
Increased vulnerability, especially for
women and children, to sexual and other
forms of exploita�on and abuse, physical
and psychological hardship, and poverty.
Alienated and marginalized
communi�es when groups of people are
stateless for extended periods. Under such
circumstances, statelessness can be a
cause of instability, conflict and
displacement.
Ending statelessness by 2024
The Global Ac�on Plan to End
Statelessness: 2014–2024, developed in
consulta�on with States, civil society and
interna�onal organisa�ons, sets out a
guiding framework made up of 10 Ac�ons
that need to be taken to end statelessness
within 10 years. The Global Ac�on Plan
sets the following overarching objec�ves:
• Resolve exis�ng major situa�ons of
statelessness;
• Prevent new cases of statelessness from
emerging; and
• Be�er iden�fy and protect stateless
popula�ons.
Socioeconomic impacts of statelessness - Kenya
A 2019 joint UNHCR-World Bank study compared the socioeconomic condi�ons of the
stateless minority Shona community with those of Kenyan ci�zens. The study found
that members of the stateless Shona are more likely to be poor and have limited access
to educa�on and employment opportuni�es. It also showed that the lack of proof of
ci�zenship and other documents hinder members of the Shona community from
securing formal employment and leaves them with few op�ons other than engagement
in the informal sector. At the end of 2020, the Government of Kenya granted ci�zenship
to all eligible members of the Shona community.4
4