27 | Training handbook . Statelessness 1. Introduction 2. Guidance 3. Legal context (...) 4.3 ‘In our own words’37: including the voices of people with lived experience Stateless persons face unique challenges and possess valuable insights into their experiences, which can be beneficial for COI researchers, legal representatives, and decision-makers in understanding the complexities of statelessness. However, as highlighted in section 2.1 of this handbook their voices are often silenced, misrepresented, or ignored due to various reasons, resulting in a lack of firsthand knowledge and information. “The needs of the stateless person are being excluded. They are not being heard adequately, if at all.” – Sirazul Islam, Youth Director of British Rohingya Community UK (BRC)38 4. Research strategy 5. Appendices This is compounded by limited or inaccurate reporting of stateless-related issues in local, national, and international media and other sources. In this ENS video Omar Othman (Founder of The Palestinian Youth League and ENS Changemaker) stresses the need for lived experience in advocating for change. What does this mean for COI research? The lack of visibility of stateless persons presents challenges to COI researchers that need to be addressed in several ways: • Lack of legal recognition contributes to these issues, stateless persons are not recognised as nationals by any state, which often leaves them without legal protection and access to basic rights. This situation can make it • difficult for them to speak up, advocate for their rights, or share their experiences without fear of reprisal or negative consequences. Another factor is access to information and communication. Many stateless persons live in precarious situations or face restrictions on their freedom of movement, limiting their access to information, communication tools, or platforms where they can share their experiences. • Engage with stateless persons directly to gain firsthand accounts of their experiences. This can include interviews, consultations and surveys. Always ensure that the engagement is conducted safely and ethically, with informed consent and respect for participants' privacy. Collaborate with organisations working with stateless persons, such as the Institute on Statelessness and Inclusion (ISI), European Network on Statelessness (ENS), UNHCR and other UN agencies, and local community groups, to gain access to information and perspectives that may not be readily available in public sources. These organisations can provide valuable insights and help connect researchers with stateless individuals willing to share their experiences. Promote the inclusion of stateless persons in research and decision-making processes, ensuring that their voices are heard and respected. The lack of visibility and voice of stateless persons, while not universal in any context, is reflected throughout the international protection framework. By following these practical steps, COI researchers can effectively incorporate the experiences and perspectives Actors within the international protection process, of stateless persons into their research, providing a including legal representatives, COI researchers and more comprehensive understanding of the situation decision-makers, may have a limited understanding of in the country of origin and informing better decisionor exposure to the experiences of stateless persons. making processes for statelessness applications and asylum claims. 37. This quote comes from an ENS video, titled ‘In our own words: The ENS Community Group’. 13 March 2023 38. This quote comes from an ENS video, titled ‘Ending statelessness is possible, but we cannot do it without the people affected by it’. 16 September 2020 © Asylos, 2023 Back to contents