Stateless Population Data 17. Both UNCHR17 and the European Union18 have highlighted the importance of improving the collection of reliable data on stateless persons and on the procedures for determining statelessness. CEDAW General Recommendation no. 32 further added that States should gather, analyse and publish sex-disaggregated statistics on stateless persons within their respective territories. 19 The adequate and improved collection of quantitative and qualitative data is a necessary precursor to the adoption of measures which better match stateless persons’ needs. 18. The nationality section of the 2011 Population and Housing Census form,20 includes both “Spanish” and “other country” boxes. The latter is followed by an empty field where respondents can write down their citizenship or their statelessness. A census question for people who do not live in regular housing,21 but in collective accommodation establishments, such as centres for elderly people, convents, barracks, hospitals, prisons, etc., also includes a box “Stateless” within the nationality category. The statistics shown in “Basic demographic data” are disaggregated by “Sex”, “Age”, “Civil status”, “Nationality”, and “Birthplace”. 160 people self-identified as stateless.22 Persons also self-identified as being from “African countries without diplomatic relations” (47 men and 19 women), “American countries without diplomatic relations” (3 men and 7 women), “Asian countries without diplomatic relations” (256 men and 104 women), “European countries without diplomatic relations” (23 men and 13 women) and “Oceanic countries without diplomatic relations” (21 men and 11 women).23 In the 2011 census, the term ‘without diplomatic relations’ was used to mean states which are not recognised by Spain. The lack of state recognition and consular protection means that many people who self-identified as such, would be at risk of statelessness. 19. While the census statistics on statelessness are very low, according to UNCHR, there were 2,455 stateless people in Spain in 2018.24 Further, between 2008 and 2016, the Ministry of the Interior published annual reports on the number of applications and recognition rate for the status of stateless person. According to the last report, between 2003 and 2016, a total of 6,969 applications were submitted. The same report notes that, in 2016, 2,151 applications were decided upon, with 1,871 positive decisions (granting statelessness status) and 280 negative decisions.25 The latest official statistics published by the Ministry of the Interior relating to 2016 show 399 international protection applications submitted by citizens of States unrecognised by Spain, which include Palestine, Kosovo, Western Sahara and Tibet, and 13 applications made by people with unknown nationality. According to the same report, during 2016, Spain granted international protection to 17 UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNCHR), Global Action Plan to End Statelessness, 4 November 2014, available at: http://cort.as/-Kz7X [accessed 8 July 2019]. 18 European Union: Council of the European Union, Conclusions of the Council and the Representatives of the Governments of the Member States on Statelessness, 4 December 2019, available at: http://cort.as/-Kz7Z [accessed 8 July 2019]. 19 UN Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW), General recommendation No. 32 on the gender-related dimensions of refugee status, asylum and statelessness of women, 5 November 2014, CEDAW/C/GC/32, available at: http://cort.as/-Kz7c [accessed 8 July 2019]. 20 Spain’s 2011 Population and Housing Census form: http://cort.as/-KmW_ (Spanish) [accessed 8 July 2019]. 21 Spain’s 2011 Population and Housing Census (Collective accommodation establishments) form: http://cort.as/-KmWG (Spanish) [accessed 8 July 2019]. 22 Spain’s 2011 Census data: http://cort.as/-KmWU [Step 1 – Create tables; Step 2 – National; Step 3 – Persons (Resident in main dwellings); Step 4 – Choose desired filters] (Spanish) [accessed 8 July 2019]. 23 Ibid. 24 UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNCHR), Global Trends - Forced Displacement in 2018, available at https://www.unhcr.org/statistics/unhcrstats/5d08d7ee7/unhcr-global-trends-2018.html [accessed 11 July 2019]. 25 Ministerio del Interior. Asilo en cifras 2016, page 67, available at: http://cort.as/-KmYB (Spanish) [accessed 8 July 2019]. 4