REGIONAL CIVIL SOCIETY ENGAGEMENT ON THE ERADICATION OF STATELESSNESS IN SOUTHERN AFRICA 29 September 2021 – 30 September 2021 (virtual) I. INTRODUCTION The Southern African Nationality Network (SANN) and the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) Regional Bureau for Southern Africa co-organised a two-day regional civil society engagement on the eradication of statelessness in Southern Africa. The objective of the engagement was:  to share information on the situation and development at country and regional level and share best practices on addressing statelessness  to complement actions and initiatives at both country and regional level between NGOs and UNHCR to implement the #IBelong Campaign  to take stock of pledge implementation, galvanize additional commitments and support States in the implementation of their pledges; and  II. to draft a concrete regional action plan for NGOs in the Region. PARTICIPATION Participants from various national, regional and international civil society organisations across Southern Africa joined the meeting. Including representatives from almost all Southern African countries except Comoros, Seychelles, eSwatini and Angola. III. OPENING REMARKS: The opening remarks were delivered by Ms. Angele Dikongue-Atangana, Deputy Director for the UNHCR Regional Bureau for Southern Africa. The United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) has been mandated since 1974 to address statelessness. To maximize efforts, on 4 November 2014, UNHCR launched a 10 year communications and legal advocacy campaign, the #IBelong campaign, encompassing a global action plan with ten set targets, aimed at bringing an end to statelessness across the world, by 2024. 1