“ CITIZENSHIP HAS BECOME A DARK CLOUD OVER OUR FAMILY.” Jubeda has lived her entire life in Assam India, with her husband, children and grandchildren. In 2017 she was stripped of her Indian citizenship and detained for 3 years. She was released on bail in 2020, into the new COVID-19 landscape. Having drawn on the family’s meagre resources to secure her release, she now faced a new, desperate reality: her irregular work had dried up and her husband was also unable to find work, due to the lockdown and health concerns. Jubeda does not have a ration card and doesn’t benefit from any state relief. As a released detainee, she is required to register at the police station every week. Travelling by foot and in poor health herself, this 26km journey takes her 5 hours to complete. Recently, floods in Assam displaced her from her home. THE CESF AT A GLANCE A targeted and time-bound initiative to build a consortium of NGOs and citizenship rights activists at the frontline of the COVID-19 crisis. Through the COVID-19 Emergency Statelessness Fund (CESF), we jointly develop strategic and bespoke projects which implement research-based action advocacy, to realise structural solutions and challenge the exclusion of stateless persons, while also addressing emergency needs. The CESF is overseen by an Expert Committee of citizenship rights activists, humanitarian and human rights actors and donors. “ Established in June 2020, the CESF currently supports projects in 13 countries, alongside the global advocacy efforts of the Consortium. With further funding, we will be able to provide more in-depth, potentially lifesaving, support to more stateless communities around the world. The CESF Consortium is an urgent and much needed response to the exclusion and structural discrimination faced by stateless people around the world that has been exacerbated by COVID-19. The Consortium’s innovative design allows for frontline citizenship rights activists from around the world to work collaboratively. DLA Piper as a global law firm is proud to be providing pro bono support to the Consortium. We are honoured to take part in this incredible exchange of ideas and expertise, a critical initiative in the global push for citizenship equality. TOGETHER WE CAN: A CONSORTIUM TO PROTECT THE STATELESS Jubeda, a victim of structural discrimination, has been deprived citizenship of the only country she knows. The COVID-19 pandemic has added another layer of rights’ deprivation, further exacerbated by the intransigence of the state, and her exclusion from state relief. Jubeda is one of millions of stateless people around the world, whose situation has significantly deteriorated due to COVID-19. Through the COVID-19 Emergency Stateless Fund (CESF), our Consortium of partners works on behalf of those like Jubeda, to challenge the structural discrimination they endure, while fighting for their rights and inclusion during the pandemic. EQUAL ACCESS TO VACCINATIONS: A HUMAN RIGHTS & PUBLIC HEALTH IMPERATIVE With the world’s attention on the vaccine rollout, it is essential that the stateless are not left out or disadvantaged. The right to healthcare is a basic human right. Yet in practice, healthcare systems are often based on nationality, denying the stateless equal access and potentially lifesaving support in the context of a global pandemic. We urgently need a concerted effort to ensure universal and equal access to healthcare. Nesha Balasubramanian, Associate, Pro Bono Manager, DLA Piper € 387,000 € 750,000 funds raised funding target 15% 85% € 59,000 € 328,000 ISI’s role (supporting partners, capacity development & advocacy) Partners (lead-implementers of country projects) FIVE THINGS YOU SHOULD KNOW ABOUT STATELESSNESS AND COVID-19 FIVE REASONS TO SUPPORT THE CESF 1 1 Stateless persons are mostly excluded from COVID-19 responses, relief, healthcare and vaccinations. 2 rights Stateless persons are being denied their , arbitrarily detained & subject to xenophobia & hate speech at higher rates in the context of COVID-19. 3 structural discrimination COVID-19 is bringing to light the (invisible) stateless persons have always endured. that 4 statelessnessnew risks of 2 COVID-19 is creating activities are stalled. 5 COVID-19 EMERGENCY STATELESSNESS as registration and other key COVID-19 presents a unique opportunity to raise visibility, address the structural causes of statelessness, and secure lasting change. FUND 3 A Blindspot: Statelessness is a global challenge that cuts across many issues. But it is poorly understood and often falls between the cracks of donor priorities. Institutional blind-spots towards the stateless mean they are often the least visible, most vulnerable and furthest left behind, especially during a global pandemic. Localisation: Inspired by the maxim ‘nothing for us without us’, the CESF is shaped and driven by community groups and activists, who design and implement bespoke action to meet the needs of their communities. 4 5 “ Innovation: The innovative design of the CESF allows for the implementation of strategic projects that address both structural issues and emergency needs; horizontal learning and collaboration through the Consortium; and global advocacy facilitated by ISI. Impact: Through the CESF, we recognise both the challenge and opportunity presented by COVID-19. CESF projects are designed to maximise impact, and over its short history, our partners have delivered ground-breaking results. Value: All projects are planned to maximise impact. 80% of funds go to the field. The rest is invested in enhancing partners’ capacities, strengthening the Consortium through cross-learning and engaging in joined-up global advocacy. When the pandemic hit and ISI began to organize their COVID-19 response, we felt it was critical to support. ISI’s fund combines addressing both emergency needs and structural problems. For humanitarian funders who might focus more narrowly on relief, it’s critical to also understand the structural issues that need to be addressed.” CESF Donor, Martin Dunn, Dunn Family Foundation