Overview of childhood statelessness in Denmark 15. According to Statistics Denmark, there are currently 8,451 stateless persons in Denmark, of which 2,407 are children aged between 0-19 years.15 UNHCR reported similar figures, estimating that there were 8,672 stateless persons in Denmark in 2019.16 16. All data indicates that statelessness occurs in Denmark predominantly in a migratory context.17 Most children in migration will automatically acquire a nationality from one or both of their parents by descent (jus sanguinis). However, some children may not be able to inherit their parents’ nationality for different reasons and find themselves in a country where nationality is not acquired through the place of birth (jus soli), leaving them stateless or at risk of statelessness. Children particularly affected by risk of statelessness include: • • • • • • children born en route to Europe and undocumented children children from countries with large stateless populations (such as Syria,18 Iraq,19 Iran,20 Myanmar21 and Kuwait22) children who cannot inherit a nationality from their parents children from families with complex histories of displacement unaccompanied or separated children outside their country of origin, and other children in migration, such as children of same-sex couples, children born as a result of surrogacy arrangements and abandoned children (foundlings). Denmark’s International Obligations 17. Considering Denmark is a state party to the international and regional instruments set out in Paras. 13-14, it has the following obligations with regard to protecting every child’s right to acquire a nationality and the prevention of childhood statelessness: • • • The right of every child to acquire a nationality, with particular attention to those children who would otherwise be stateless;23 The automatic acquisition of nationality by foundlings found on its territory who would otherwise be stateless;24 The acquisition of nationality by children born on its territory who do not acquire another nationality, either at birth or subsequently if they remain stateless, 15 Statistics Denmark: www.statistikbanken.dk/FOLK1B. UNHCR (2020), Global Trends: Forced Displacement in 2019, https://www.unhcr.org/statistics/unhcrstats/5ee200e37/unhcrglobal-trends-2019.html. 17 Submission on Denmark by the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees for the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights’ Compilation Report, Universal Periodic Review: 2nd Cycle, 24th Session, available at https://uprdoc.ohchr.org/uprweb/downloadfile.aspx?filename=2428&file=EnglishTranslation. 18 For more information on populations affected by statelessness in Syria, see ENS & ISI (2019), Statelessness in Syria Country Position Paper: https://statelessjourneys.org/wp-content/uploads/StatelessJourneys-Syria-August-2019.pdf 19 For more information on populations affected by statelessness in Iraq, see ENS & ISI (2019), Statelessness in Iraq Country Position Paper: https://statelessjourneys.org/wp-content/uploads/StatelessJourneys-Iraq-final.pdf 20 For more information on populations affected by statelessness in Iran, see ENS & ISI (2019), Statelessness in Iran Country Position Paper: https://statelessjourneys.org/resources/statelessness-in-iran/ 21 For more information on populations affected by statelessness in Myanmar, see ENS & ISI (2019), Statelessness in Myanmar Country Position Paper: https://statelessjourneys.org/resources/statelessness-in-myanmar/ 22 For more information on populations affected by statelessness in Kuwait, see ENS & ISI (2019), Statelessness in Kuwait Country Position Paper: https://statelessjourneys.org/resources/statelessness-in-kuwait/ 23 1989 Convention on the Rights of the Child, Article 7. 24 1997 European Convention on Nationality, Article 6 (1)(b); 1961 Convention on the Reduction of Statelessness, Article 2. 16 4