Migrants Resource Centre, University of Liverpool Law Clinic, European Network on Statelessness, and Institute on Statelessness and Inclusion Joint Submission to the Human Rights Council at the 27th Session of the Universal Periodic Review United Kingdom Introduction 1. Migrants Resource Centre, the European Network on Statelessness, the Institute on Statelessness and Inclusion, and the University of Liverpool Law Clinic make this submission to the Universal Periodic Review (UPR) in relation to statelessness, access to nationality and the right to liberty and respect for human rights of stateless persons in the United Kingdom. This joint submission draws on the combined expertise of the submitting organisations in the UK and internationally. 2. Migrants Resource Centre (MRC) is a non-profit organisation founded in 1984 which hosts Asylum Aid and the Project for the Registration of Children as British Citizens (PRCBC). Asylum Aid provides free legal representation to asylum seekers and stateless persons; undertakes related policy work, advocacy and education; and played a key role in researching statelessness1 and pressuring the UK Government to introduce a statelessness determination procedure. PRCBC provides legal advice and assistance and conducts research and education relating to the registration of children as British citizens. 3. The Liverpool Law Clinic is part of the School of Law and Social Justice, University of Liverpool. It is staffed by practising lawyers who, since 2013, advise and represent people in the UK’s statelessness determination procedure. It has collaborated with UNHCR2 and met with Home Office officials to press for changes to practice and policy. The Clinic and the Immigration Law Practitioners’ Association are publishing a Best Practice Guide relating to statelessness applications in the UK.3 4. The European Network on Statelessness (ENS) is a civil society alliance of NGOs, lawyers, academics and other independent experts committed to addressing statelessness in Europe. Based in London, it currently has over 100 members (including 55 organisations) in 39 European countries. ENS organises its work around three pillars – law and policy, communications and capacity-building. The Network provides expert advice and support to a range of stakeholders, including governments. 5. The Institute on Statelessness and Inclusion (the Institute) is an independent non-profit organisation dedicated to promoting an integrated, human rights based response to the injustice of statelessness and exclusion. Established in August 2014, it is the only global centre committed to promoting the human rights of stateless persons and ending statelessness. Its 1 Mapping Statelessness in the United Kingdom (Asylum Aid and UNHCR, 22 November 2011) http://www.asylumaid.org.uk/mapping-statelessness-in-the-uk/ (‘Mapping Statelessness’). 2 The Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees. 3 (forthcoming, November 2016). 1