Joint Submission to the Human Rights Council at the 39th Session of the Universal Periodic Review IRELAND Introduction 1. The Immigrant Council of Ireland (Immigrant Council), European Network on Statelessness (ENS), and Institute on Statelessness and Inclusion (ISI) make this joint submission to the Universal Periodic Review (UPR), on the right to a nationality and human rights challenges pertaining to statelessness in Ireland. The co-submitting organisations also made a joint submission on the right to a nationality and statelessness, during the Second Cycle, in advance of the 25th Session of the UPR.1 2. This submission focuses on the right to a nationality and human rights challenges encountered by stateless persons (primarily in residence and migration related applications) in Ireland, with particular reference to difficulties in accessing Irish nationality as well as the legislative and procedural deficits that result in stateless persons being treated less favourably by Irish authorities than those who hold a nationality. In particular, the submission addresses: I. II. III. The rights of stateless persons and access to a nationality, Children’s right to a nationality, and Deprivation of nationality. 3. The Immigrant Council of Ireland – Independent Law Centre (ICI)2 is the leading voice in securing improved rights and protections in the area of immigration, citizenship and anti-racism in Ireland. It offers support, advice and information, while also achieving positive change through strategic legal action and engagement with lawmakers to make immigration laws fit for purpose. It is committed to supporting individuals and families often at a vulnerable stage in their life, including victims of human trafficking and stateless persons. The Council works in coalition with like-minded individuals, organisations and stakeholders to deliver genuine change at both a national and European level. The Council has contributed to a number of reports to UN and Council of Europe monitoring bodies on Ireland’s compliance with international and regional human rights instruments. 4. The European Network on Statelessness (ENS) 3 is a civil society alliance of NGOs, lawyers, academics, and other independent experts committed to addressing statelessness in Europe, which currently has over 160 members in 41 European 1 See: https://files.institutesi.org/IrelandUPR2015.pdf https://www.immigrantcouncil.ie/ 3 For more information about the European Network on Statelessness, see: www.statelessness.eu. 2 1