Joint Submission for the 72nd session of the Committee against Torture on the rights of stateless persons and human rights challenges pertaining to statelessness THE NETHERLANDS Introduction 1. The Institute on Statelessness and Inclusion (ISI)1 and the European Network on Statelessness (ENS)2 welcome the opportunity to make this submission to the Committee against Torture (hereinafter the “Committee”), on the rights, liberty and security of stateless people on the territory, the prohibition of arbitrary deprivation of nationality, and human rights challenges in The Netherlands pertaining to statelessness including cruel, inhumane or degrading treatment. The submission focuses on: I. Deprivation of nationality on national security grounds and the prohibition against torture and cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment II. Statelessness determination, the liberty and security of the person and arbitrary detention. 2. In light of the Netherlands’ obligations under the Convention against Torture and Other Cruel Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment (hereinafter “Convention against Torture” or “CAT”), The Principles on Deprivation of Nationality as a National Security Measure,3 the Year of Action Against Citizenship Stripping, 4 and the importance of eradicating statelessness as expressed by UNHCR’s #IBelong campaign,5 the submitting organisations hope the Committee will raise these longstanding matters and address relevant recommendations to the Netherlands.6 The Institute on Statelessness and Inclusion (ISI) is the first and only human rights NGO dedicated to working on statelessness at the global level. ISI’s mission is to promote inclusive societies by realising and protecting everyone’s right to a nationality. The Institute has made over 70 country specific UPR submissions on the human rights of stateless persons. ISI has also compiled summaries of the key human rights challenges related to statelessness in all countries under review under the 23rd to the 38th UPR Sessions. For more information see: www.institutesi.org 2 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 170 members in 41 European countries. ENS organises its work around three pillars – law and policy development, awarenessraising, and capacity-building. ENS provides expert advice and support to a range of stakeholders, including governments. For more information about the European Network on Statelessness, see: www.statelessness.eu 3 Principles on Deprivation of Nationality as a National Security Measure, March 2020, available at: https://www.institutesi.org/year-of-action-resources/principles-on-deprivation-of-nationality 4 https://www.institutesi.org/year-of-action-resources/principles-on-deprivation-of-nationality 5 UNHCR, #IBelong Campaign to End Statelessness (launched in November 2014), see: https://www.unhcr.org/ibelong/ 6 Principles on Deprivation of Nationality as a National Security Measure, March 2020, available at: https://www.institutesi.org/year-of-action-resources/principles-on-deprivation-of-nationality 1