23 | Training handbook . Statelessness 1. Introduction 2. Guidance 3. Legal context (...) 4. Research strategy 5. Appendices Considering them separately would be additive Displacement: discrimination. And both intersectional discrimination “Uncertainty regarding the number of stateless persons and additive discrimination can be seen as different results from the very nature of statelessness and the lack of a census since 1932. The lack of data and difficulty to access kinds of multiple discrimination. available data contributes to perpetuating statelessness and to keeping stateless persons in Lebanon invisible and extremely marginalised. Also, insufficient priority is given to the implementation of measures to identify statelessness and protect the stateless. However, the stateless population in the country is understood to be increasing due to many families’ multigenerational statelessness, and increased displacement and migration.” Here are some examples from the Lebanon report focusing on the intersections of stateless and sex, socioeconomic status, age, religion, and displacement: Gender: “Lebanon is one of the twenty five countries worldwide that do not allow women to confer nationality upon their children on an equal basis as men, and one of the approximately fifty countries that deny women the right to pass their nationality onto a foreign spouse [Global Campaign for Equal Nationality Rights]. This means that children and foreign spouses are at risk of statelessness, and are not afforded the same rights as Lebanese nationals, often having to rely on visas to remain in the country.” (Source: Institute on Statelessness and Inclusion: “Stateless in a Global Pandemic”, June 2020, pg 22-23) Socio-economic status and age: “The educational experiences of children and youth have been profoundly impacted due to the socio-economic crises in Lebanon, as well as the constant shocks and stressors facing families, resulting in increased psychological and behavioural distress. [It is footnoted here that, “These findings are also reflected in a recent United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) study that indicates that in Lebanon, including in the Palestine refugee camps, financial hardship has impacted all areas of people’s lives, leading them to be more exhausted and stressed. See UNICEF July 2020. Underneath the Surface: Understanding the root causes of violence against children and women.” (Source: UNRWA, “Syria, Lebanon and Jordan Emergency Appeal 2022”, 18 January 2022, p. 37) Religion: (Source: The Collective for Research & Training on Development Action, The Nationality Campaign, Ruwad alHoukouk Frontiers Rights et al, “Joint Submission to the Human Rights Council Universal Periodic Review”, July 2020, p. 4) What does this mean for COI research? In practical terms, this means that people conducting COI research should: • Consider using a variety of search terms and phases, such as "marginalised," "minority," and "displaced people," as the term "stateless" may not be used in the country of habitual residence. • Put the information into context by mentioning the socioeconomic and political environment, as well as the governance and policy frameworks, as well as the cultural and societal values and norms. • Demonstrate how a person's lack of a state can have an impact on other aspects of their identity and can result in social disadvantage, discrimination, or persecution. • Take into consideration that this type of research will take more time than research on a single issue. “Lebanon officially recognizes 18 religious communities, and the political system ensures that nearly all of these groups are represented, though not according to their actual shares of the population. Individuals who are not, or do not wish to be, affiliated with the recognized groups are effectively excluded. Moreover, the country’s large refugee population, including Palestinian refugee camp residents and Syrians who fled their country’s civil war, are not eligible to acquire citizenship and have no political rights.” (Source Freedom House, Freedom in the World 2021, Section B. Political Pluralism and Participation) © Asylos, 2023 Back to contents