In line with Action 8, Issue nationality
documentation to those with entitlement to it,
from June to August, UNHCR provided support to
the Government of Burkina Faso in issuing 5,000
national identity cards to IDPs from Barsalgho
and Foubé in the central-northern region. The
issuance of identity documents reduces the risk of
statelessness for IDPs, facilitates their freedom of
movement and avoids arrest and detention.
Finally, on Action 10, Improve quantitative and
qualitative data on stateless populations, in Niger,
UNHCR, ICAHD-INTERNATIONAL and Secours des
Oubliés (SDO) identified 2,014 persons at risk of
statelessness in Niger through a census that was
conducted between June and August. The mobile
court hearings identified 533 refugee children, 717
internally displaced children and 280 returnees
without documents or with damaged documents.
Also In line with Action 8, the Department of the
Registrar General of Zimbabwe, with operational
support from UNHCR, launched a mobile registration
exercise for the issuance and replacement of
nationality and civil status documentation to the
populations affected by the Tropical Cyclone
Idai in the Chimanimani and Chipinge Districts in
Manicaland Province. From 9 to 22 September, a
total of 8,725 nationality and civil status documents
had been issued.
Media impact of the Campaign
The High-Level Segment on Statelessness was
widely covered by media. Articles described Cate
Blanchett’s plea to accelerate efforts to address
statelessness. Reuters dedicated an article to the
pledge made by Kenya to resolve statelessness on
its territory by 2024, and particularly to recognize
members of the Shona community as nationals.
Media attention also went to the winner of the
Nansen Award, Azizbek Ashurov, highlighting his
efforts to end statelessness in Kyrgyzstan. Coverage
was featured by a number of media outlets, including
The Telegraph and Reuters.
Three TV talk shows were broadcast in Madagascar
in August and September to raise awareness
on statelessness. The talk shows were initiated
by Focus Development and involved high level
personalities from Madagascar.
11