To take stock of global efforts( to end statelessness) and muster the support of all stakeholders’ the UNHCR has organized a High-Level Engagement on Refugees and Stateless Persons in 2011, a High Level Segment on Statelessness in October 2019, followed by a Global Refugee Forum in December of the same year. At these fora, states, and civil society from across the globe, including from Southern Africa, made various commitments, pledging to take action to end statelessness in their respective states. States in the region demonstrated political will to end statelessness through the various pledges. In her opening remarks, Angele Dikongoue-Atangana reflected on UNHCR’s statelessness mandate; achievements in Southern Africa; obstacles such as gaps in several nationality laws in the region which lead to statelessness; and the need for states in the region to accede to and domesticate the 1954 Convention on the Status of Stateless persons and the 1961 Convention on the Reduction of Statelessness, in order to effectively address statelessness. She further highlighted the crucial role of civil society in the region and specifically that of the Southern African Nationality Network (SANN), towards the eradication of statelessness in the region. With three more years to the campaign’s 10 year mark, Ms Dikongue-Atangana commended NGO’s in the region on all efforts to address statelessness in their respective countries and through SANN ,encouraging those in attendance and not yet members, to join the network. She provided recommendations on how civil society can support UNHCR and their respective governments in the following 6 areas: (1) advocacy with government and parliament, particularly for the reform of nationality laws and accession to the conventions; (2) supporting States in reviewing and redrafting relevant regulations; (3) advocacy with governments on strengthening birth registration, and , and sensitization of the population on the importance of birth registration; (4) information campaign on statelessness to educate the public and influence governments; (5) creation of national networks on the provision of legal aid to stateless persons and persons at risk of statelessness; and (6) research and data collection on statelessness. IV. KEYNOTE ADDRESSES The keynote address on day one was delivered by Sihle Nxumalo, a formerly stateless person. Sihle, shared on his personal story of growing up in abject poverty which forced his mother, a South African national to leave him at an orphanage. He was born in South Africa but was not registered at birth. Without a birth certificate, he was unable to further his studies and was forced to drop out of school. Without an ID or formal education, he was unable to progress in life and 2