On 15 July, in the Philippines, UNHCR facilitated
a meeting of the Civil Society Network on
Statelessness (CSNS) to discuss its structure,
participation in the Global Alliance to End
Statelessness, and update its workplan. Members
highlighted achievements and initiatives under the
National Action Plan to End Statelessness, while new
civil society organizations formalized their intent to
join CSNS. The meeting renewed its Memorandum
of Understanding, welcomed Community and Family
Services International as the lead coordinator, and
added four new members. UNHCR will continue
supporting CSNS in efforts to prevent and address
statelessness.
From 23 to 25 September, in Dar-es-Salaam,
the Regional Bureau for the East and Horn of
Africa and the Great Lakes hosted a regional
statelessness meeting with key stakeholders. Held
at the conclusion of the #IBelong Campaign and
in preparation for the UNHCR High-Level Segment
on Statelessness, the meeting addressed legal and
documentation gaps, AU statelessness protocol
ratification, and Global Alliance to End Statelessness
membership. Key outcomes included commitments
to legal reforms, improved civil registration, and
awareness initiatives to eliminate statelessness.
In July, in the Republic of Congo, as part of
the #IBelong Campaign, UNHCR conducted a
sensitization initiative in public spaces such as bus
stops, barbershops, and beauty salons in Brazzaville
to emphasize the importance of birth registration in
preventing statelessness. On 12 September, UNHCR
and representatives from the Ministry of Justice,
Territorial Administration, and Preschool and Primary
Education met to plan the launch of mobile courts
to register births in remote areas. This initiative aims
to register and issue birth certificates to 10,000
children.
From July to September, in South Africa, UNHCR’s
Regional Bureau for Southern Africa held
key events to address statelessness. In July,
a regional meeting with the Southern African
Development Community (SADC) produced twelve
recommendations, including national action plans,
accession to UN Statelessness Conventions, and
ratification of the ACHPR Protocol on Statelessness.
In August, an online training with the University
of Cape Town trained over 20 participants on
statelessness identification and response. In
September, a workshop with the Pan-African
Parliament (PAP) focused on finalizing the Model Law
on Citizenship and Prevention of Statelessness, with
validation expected in October 2024.
On 26 September, in South Africa, UNHCR South
Africa Multi Country Office held a Stocktaking
Roundtable to showcase collective initiatives of
States, civil society, academia, donors, and citizens
towards eradicating statelessness under the
#IBelong Campaign. The Southern Africa Nationality
Network (SANN) highlighted the plight of women
affected by statelessness, while the University
of Pretoria presented grassroots initiatives from
organizations pledging support to the Global
Compact on Refugees. Additionally, several
governments expressed their intention to join the
Global Alliance to End Statelessness.
On 26 September, in South Africa, UNHCR’s South
Africa Multi-Country Office held a stocktaking
roundtable in the framework of the #IBelong
Campaign to highlight collective efforts by states,
civil society, donors, and citizens to combat
statelessness. The Southern Africa Nationality
Network (SANN) emphasized the challenges
faced by women affected by statelessness, while
University of Pretoria shared grassroots efforts
supporting the Global Compact on Refugees.
From 11 to 12 August, in Yemen, UNHCR partner
Migration, Refugees and IDPs Studies Centre
(MRISC) hosted a two-day workshop for 35 civil
registry authority members in Sana’a. Sessions
addressed UNHCR’s mandate, legal identity rights,
and barriers to civil registration. This workshop
strengthened collaboration with local officials
and identified key challenges in registration and
documentation.
From 3 to 5 July, in Brazil, the XXI Meeting of
CLARCIEV and the adoption of the São Paulo
Declaration took place under the theme “Civil
Registries: Identify to Integrate. Dignify to Include.
Self-regulate to Evolve.” The meeting highlighted
the critical role of identity registration and inclusion.
CLARCIEV remains a key UNHCR partner in the
region and recently became the first stakeholder
from the Americas to join the Global Alliance to
End Statelessness. The Declaration outlines vital
measures to uphold the right to legal identity and
prevent statelessness, emphasizing universal birth
registration and the right to identity.
UNHCR > The Campaign to End Statelessness | July – September 2024 Update
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