. Identification
re ention and reduction o state essness
Recognition of statelessness as a result of a statelessness determination procedure plays an important role in enhancing respect for the human
rights of stateless persons, particularly through access to a secure legal status and enjoyment of rights afforded to stateless persons under the 1954
Convention.105 However, these rights are not limited to individuals who have
been recognized as stateless following a determination made by a State or
UNHCR. Instead, the rights afforded to an individual under the Convention are linked to the nature of that person’s presence in the State, assessed
in terms of the degree of attachment to the host country.106
Currently, all States with statelessness determination procedures grant
residence rights to recognized stateless persons, though some deny this
right if the person is considered to be a danger to national security or public
order, or if the person is admissible to another country.107 To be consistent
with the standards set out in the 1954 Convention, the granting of a residence permit to a stateless person should be accompanied by the right to
work, access to health care and social assistance, and the issuance of identity
papers and a travel document. Next to granting residence rights, it is also
recommended that States facilitate, to the extent possible, the naturalization of stateless persons.108
States should promote access by stateless persons to administrative
and judicial remedies, including through legal counselling programmes. As
statelessness is often a result of discrimination, efforts to promote economic
and social integration may also be necessary in the development of solutions. In 2006, the UNHCR Executive Committee encouraged States, “to
consider measures to allow the integration of persons in situations of protracted statelessness, through developing programmes in the field of education, housing, access to health and income generation, in partnership with
relevant United Nations agencies”.109
The 2014 UNHCR Handbook on Protection of Stateless Persons provides comprehensive guidance for government officials, judges and practitioners and a valuable resource for both statelessness determination and
the development and implementation of law and policies relating to the
protection of stateless persons.
77
Select target paragraph3
Connect to a paragraph
Connect to an entity
Disable highlights
Add to table of contents