DESK REVIEW ON POPULATIONS AT RISK OF STATELESSNESS Executive Summary In 2011, at the Ministerial Intergovernmental Event on Refugees and Stateless Persons, the Government of the Philippines pledged to “Initiate the process of accession to the 1961 Convention on the Reduction of Statelessness” (1961 Statelessness Convention).1 As an initial step, and a key achievement for the Philippines, the government has adopted a ‘National Action Plan to End Statelessness by 2024.’2 This runs parallel to the Global Campaign to End Statelessness, or the #IBelong campaign.3 In October 2019, at the HighLevel Segment on Statelessness, the Government of the Philippines made a series of pledges. In its statement, the Philippines emphasized that its pledges were made on the basis of, “[a] deeply rooted culture of hospitality and compassion for others…, the fundamental Filipino value of pakikipagkapwa (or feeling one with others), adherence to human rights instruments, national policies and commitments to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), and as a priority of its National Development Plan embedded within the country’s long-term vision ‘Ambisyon Natin 2040’.”4 At the High-Level Segment on Statelessness, the Government of the Philippines affirmed its pledge to, “continue the study of statelessness… to improve qualitative and quantitative data on populations at risk of statelessness.”5 This desk review research is being pursued to support the good work of the government in this regard.6 There are persons at risk of statelessness with factual and familial connections to the Philippines overseas. Filipinos are affected by the laws of other countries when they migrate, 1 Ministerial Intergovernmental Event on Refugees and Stateless Persons (Geneva, Palais des Nations, 7-8 December 2011) https://www.unhcr.org/commemorations/Pledges2011-preview-compilation-analysis.pdf. 2 Government of the Republic of the Philippines, National Action Plan on the End of Statelessness by 2024, Available at: https:// www.unhcr.org/ibelong/the-philippines-joint-strategy/ (Key components of the National Action Plan include resolving existing cases of statelessness, ensuring that no child is born stateless, and improving quantitative and qualitative data on stateless populations.). 3 UNHCR, Global Campaign to End Statelessness 2014-2024, See: https://www.unhcr.org/en-au/protection/ statelessness/54621bf49/global-action-plan-end-statelessness-2014-2024.html. 4 Statement of the Republic of the Philippines at the High Level Segment on Statelessness, 7 October 2019, available at: https:// www.unhcr.org/5d9cbcb27.pdf.. 5 Results of the High-Level Segment on Statelessness, October 2019, available at: https://www.unhcr.org/ibelong/results-of-thehigh-level-segment-on-Statelessness/. 6 Results of the High-Level Segment on Statelessness, October 2019, available at: https://www.unhcr.org/ibelong/resultsof-the-high-level-segment-on-Statelessness/ (The Government of the Philippines further pledged to: “enhance the policy, legal, and operational framework for stateless persons”; “improve access of vulnerable and marginalized populations to documentation through birth and civil registration”; “continue the process of accession to the 1961 Convention on the Reduction of Statelessness”; continue leadership on these issues in South-East Asia, and cooperate with UNHCR.). UNHCR / April 2021 5