4 | Training handbook . Statelessness 1. Introduction 2. Guidance 3. Legal context 1. Introduction This handbook should be read alongside our Country of Origin Information (COI): Evidencing asylum claims in the UK handbook, which explains fundamental principles of Country of Origin Information research, its use in the UK refugee status determination, quality criteria, research tips and guidance on avoiding common pitfalls. 1.1 Context: Country of Origin Information (COI) on statelessness Much of COI is tailored to the international protection context, meanwhile statelessness may not even be identified as a possible issue in COI reports, or only very briefly addressed. A UNHCR audit on statelessness determination in the UK published in 2020 ‘notes the limited availability of country information on statelessness’, and at the same time highlights the important role that COI can play in determining statelessness applications.1 Findings from the audit led the UNHCR to recommend that ‘Relevant Home Office COI reports should include a section on “nationality and citizenship”’.2 4. Research strategy 5. Appendices Furthermore, participants observed that COI often lacks due attention to the diversity of terminology that may be used to describe people who are experiencing statelessness in the context of their country of habitual residence, which can lead to misunderstanding a person’s situation. The general lack of COI and the inadequacies in the COI that does exist on statelessness raise the risk that the applications of stateless persons may not be properly understood as engaging issues of statelessness, dealt with through the appropriate process, and fairly adjudicated. 1.2 Asylos project on statelessness In March 2023 in response to the issues raised by NGOs and academics, legal representatives working on statelessness. Asylos published a country report on the situation of stateless Palestinians in Lebanon, combining interviews with individuals with authoritative knowledge on the topic alongside excerpts from country information available in the public domain. We also developed a principles document, handbook (this document) and training module to guide those Experts by experience, lawyers, NGOs, and academics conducting COI research on statelessness related issues. who took part in consultations with Asylos repeatedly pointed to a general lack of awareness among decision-makers and legal counsel about the contexts 1.3 Consultations with in which a person may be affected by statelessness. statelessness experts Converging with the findings of the UNHCR audit, many also highlighted a lack of information on the issue of Asylos conducted in-depth consultations with a range of statelessness in COI reports, including those produced stakeholders, ranging from those with lived experience by the UK Home Office. of statelessness, to academics, lawyers and NGOs with expertise on statelessness. These consultations In particular, participants identified the need for COI provided invaluable insight, helping us to identify tailored to address not just nationality and citizenship information gaps and inadequacies in the available COI frameworks but also how they are applied and how on statelessness. To supplement the consultations, we stateless people are treated by the authorities in also conducted a (unpublished) rapid desk review of countries of habitual residence. literature on statelessness, and a review of which Home Office CPINs address statelessness. 1. 2. UNHCR, Stateless Determination in the UK: A UNHCR audit of the Home Office approach to decision-making in the Statelessness Determination Procedure, see p. 35, 2020 UNHCR, Stateless Determination in the UK: A UNHCR audit of the Home Office approach to decision-making in the Statelessness Determination Procedure, see p. 10, 2020 © Asylos, 2023 Back to contents