DESK REVIEW ON POPULATIONS AT RISK OF STATELESSNESS In 2017, an Agreement was signed by representatives of various government agencies with a commitment to protection refugees and stateless persons. The Agreement establishes a wholeof-government approach, by establishing an Inter-Agency Steering Committee (see organizational chart below) with a mandate to ensure the protection and assistance for refugees, asylumseekers, stateless persons and stateless applicants, and includes institutionalizing the policies that would improve their access to rights and services, and the mechanisms in providing appropriate assistance and services to the POC.91 The Agreement sets out both the rights and obligations of POC in Section 6, as well as the roles and responsibilities of each of the 16 relevant agencies Party to the agreement, noting that: “While the RSPPU is primarily mandated to provide protection for refugees, asylum seekers and stateless persons, the task of ensuring their access to rights and services entails the support of various agencies. It is therefore crucial that the policies of relevant agencies be institutionalized in order to ensure that the POC are properly protected and assisted in the Philippines.” The Inter-Agency Steering Committee is a body made up of representatives of the members, “the composition of the committee shall not be exclusive and shall be open to other government agencies.” The Inter-Agency Steering Committee 91 34 Inter-Agency Agreement on the Protection of Persons of Concern in the Philippines. UNHCR / April 2021