tilburg law review 19 (2014) 153-162
brill.com/tilr
Refugees International
A Case Study on NGO Advocacy to Venerate Nationality Rights
Maureen Lynch
The International Observatory on Statelessness
maureen@nationalityforall.org
Sarnata Reynolds
Refugees International
Sarnata@refugeesinternational.org
Abstract
Resolution of one of the world’s most persistent human rights problems is finally
within reach. In the campaign to fulfill the right to nationality and end statelessness,
non-governmental organizations (NGOs) and civil society are at the forefront of ensuring change. We have come to understand that effective strategies to end this injustice
require not only changes in laws and norms, but such action must be partnered with
focused, ceaseless and well-timed research and advocacy. As a result of multifarious
efforts, countries such as Bangladesh, Mauritania, Nepal and Sri Lanka have made
significant strides in ensuring nationality rights. The response of UN agencies has
improved. And media attention has increased. Governments, international agencies,
NGOs, legal experts, scientists and the stateless themselves are joining forces as never
before. Yet, at the same time, challenges to uphold nationality rights for all may never
have been greater than they are today. This article reflects on the re-emergence of
statelessness as a global concern, the role of one NGO in a multifaceted movement,
and the exigent path that lies ahead.
Keywords
statelessness – stateless – right to nationality – human rights – NGOs – UNHCR –
detention – Kuwait – Dominican Republic
After more than six decades of nearly non-existent concern for the world’s
stateless people, a transformation is taking place. Solving statelessness is
© koninklijke brill nv, leiden, 2014 | doi 10.1163/22112596-01902015