Treaty Event
The two Conventions on Statelessness help
the international community to identify people
who are stateless, provide them with a legal
identity, assess the reasons for their situation,
and find solutions.
The 1961 Convention on the Reduction of
Statelessness outlines mechanisms to avoid
statelessness at birth.
The universal use of these mechanisms would
end virtually all statelessness within a single
generation.
That is our collective goal and the aspiration
of the #IBelong Campaign.
I would also like to acknowledge States that
are longstanding parties to these
Conventions. These States – whose names
appear on the screen in this hall – took action
to end statelessness early, recognizing its
very serious impact and consequences.
I commend their commitment to the rights
and dignity of all.
I understand several States are considering
accession. I encourage you to take this step
as soon as possible, and assure you that the
United Nations – led by UNHCR – will be your
committed partner throughout accession and
implementation of the Statelessness
Conventions.
Finally, I congratulate High Commissioner
Grandi and his dedicated staff for their
successful Campaign and commitment to
ending statelessness by 2024.
The whole United Nations family,
and I personally, are fully behind you!
© UNHCR/Jean Marc Ferré
Representative of State
Secretary for Human
Rights and Citizenship ,
Ana Celeste Cardoso
Januário (far right),
Representative of
Angola, is recognised
by (from left) UN High
Commissioner for
Refugees Filippo
Grandi, UN Deputy
Secretary-General
Amina Mohammed, and
UN Office of Legal
Affairs representative
Arancha Hinojal, for
Angola’s accession to
both the 1954
Convention and the
1961 Convention on the
Reduction of
Statelessness.
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