Leaving No One Behind: Statelessness and the Sustainable Development Goals Stateless people are denied full participation in society; in particular the right to vote and stand for public office in any State. Statelessness is thus also a question of democracy: even those voting rights granted to some non-nationals (for example in local elections) depend on legal recognition of another nationality and/ or of a legal status in the country granting such rights. There is no incentive for any political party to speak on their behalf or represent their interests, or for any foreign government to exercise diplomatic and consular protection on their behalf. They are among the most voiceless and powerless and the most likely to be left behind. Ending statelessness is central to realization of the SDGs. ! D) Kenya shares insights on the link between ending statelessness and the attainment of the SDGs31 The commitments made in the SDGs were recalled by the representative of Kenya speaking at a UNHCR event on statelessness in Geneva in 2017, who highlighted the contribution towards realization of the SDGs made by the grant of Kenyan citizenship to the formerly stateless Makonde community, of pre-independence Mozambican origin. The Kenyan representative noted that this initiative “achieved a number of quick wins in terms of implementation of the SDGs, touching indeed on one aspect or the other of most of them”. In particular, the representative highlighted SDG 10, on reducing inequality within and among countries (especially Target 10.3 on ensuring equal opportunity and reducing inequalities of outcome), and SDG 16, on promoting peaceful and inclusive societies for sustainable development, providing access to justice for all (especially Target 16.9, on legal identity for all). Other SDGs mentioned included: access to education (SDG 4, Target 4.1); inclusive and sustainable economic growth, and decent work for all (SDG 8); ending poverty (SDG 1); ending hunger (SDG 2); and ensuring healthy lives and access to health care (SDG 3). Finally, the intervention noted the earlier reform to the Kenyan constitution removing gender discrimination from the transmission of citizenship to children and spouses and contributing to (SDG 5, especially Target 5.1), as well as its contribution to the same goals by reducing statelessness among children of Kenyan mothers. 3.2 Consequences of statelessness for individuals, communities and States The intersection of statelessness and development can be analysed at different levels of society, from the most local to the most general. This report considers the impact of statelessness on development from three different perspectives: the individual; the immediate community to which they belong (whether defined by geography, ethnicity, language, religion, or similar characteristic); and the State or territory of residence, as recognized by the international regime. • The individual: statelessness may result in the violation of a wide range of human rights, including freedom of movement and freedom from arbitrary arrest and detention, the right to a fair hearing, participation in political life and access to education, health care, employment and social benefits. Stateless people, especially children, are more vulnerable to exploitation, including human trafficking. Stateless persons may be driven into illegal behaviour, such as bribing officials for identity documents or using other people’s documents, because there is no legal route to resolving their situation. 31. Summary of presentation by the Kenya Permanent Mission to the United Nations, Geneva, at the Side Event “From aspiration to action – including displaced populations in the 2030 Agenda”, 30 June 2017, on the margins of the Sixty-ninth Meeting of the UNHCR Standing Committee, available at https://citizenshiprightsafrica.org/presentation-by-the-kenya-permanent-mission-to-the-united-nations-geneva-at-the-side-event-from-aspiration-toaction-including-displaced-populations-in-the-2030-agenda/. 22