An Evaluation of Pledges to Eradicate Statelessness in the SADC High-Level Segment, 10 of the 16 SADC countries3 held a Preparatory Meeting where they reflected on achievements thus far. Mozambique noted that it had become a state party to both conventions and Namibia reported that it had improved birth registration and increased the number of registration points – its birth registration rate went from 67% in 2011 to 88% in 2019 (UNHCR, 2019). States also outlined pledges that would eventually be made at the 2019 High-Level Segment, some with amendments or alterations. At the 2019 High-Level Segment, held at the midpoint of the IBelong campaign, 11 Southern African states made a total of 46 pledges toward eradicating statelessness. This included the non-SADC Republic of Congo. A treaty-signing event was held where Angola acceded to both Statelessness Conventions. Most pledges were aimed at ensuring that no child is born stateless, granting protection status to stateless migrants and facilitating their naturalization, birth registration, acceding to Statelessness Conventions, and the improvement of qualitative and quantitative data on stateless populations. These reflect Actions 2, 6, 7, 9, and 10, respectively, of the Global Action Plan to End Statelessness. Five of the 21 CSOs that made pledges were based in Southern Africa (UNHCR, 2020: 18). These kinds of regular forums can serve an important accountability function, as they provide intervals for which states can use as timelines. They can, in addition, catalyze legal commitments and policy changes. Between the Global Refugee Forums, the 2011 event and the 2019 High-Level Segment, 15 of the 16 SADC countries had submitted pledges related to statelessness. Seychelles has not made statelessness-related pledges. Mauritius made pledges at the Preparatory Meeting only and reported on progress made thereto. The highest number of state pledges dealt with accession to the Statelessness Conventions, data collection, and strengthening birth registration. In addition, states committed to: engaging in law reform; raising awareness and sensitization; establishing statelessness determination procedures; facilitating access to naturalization; and developing a National Action Plan to end statelessness. The GCR’s online dashboard shows that 51 pledges dealing with statelessness have been made by the Southern African region, 30 of which were by states. This does not include pledges made to the Southern African region from outside the region. The 2019 High-Level Segment pledges are not included on the dashboard; as a result, the total number of pledges made is closer to 100. Pledge implementation thus far in the region has shown some progress toward the eradication of statelessness through legislative reform and documentation drives. In Botswana, legislative reform has been introduced to amend the Refugee (Recognition and Control) Act to allow for the issuance of identity cards to refugees and members of their families, in pursuance of its pledge made at the 2019 Forum. In 2021, Botswana drafted a National Action Plan and has been in discussion with the UNHCR to sign a Memorandum of Understanding on statelessness. Mozambique 3 Botswana, Comoros, DRC, Madagascar, Seychelles, and Tanzania did not participate. 121