1. Introduction In November 2014, UNHCR launched a Global Campaign to End Statelessness in 10 Years. The strategy for the Campaign is set out in a Global Action Plan, which contains 10 actions that need to be taken to end statelessness. States are encouraged to adopt National Action Plans that include those actions necessary to end statelessness in their own national contexts. In preparation for the Campaign, the UNHCR Regional Representation for Northern Europe (UNHCR RRNE) has conducted statelessness mappings in each of the countries in the region.1 The mapping in Sweden was conducted by an independent consultant, Ms Anne Laakko, working under the supervision of UNHCR RRNE. The methodology comprised desk research including review of individual decisions in asylum cases involving stateless persons, as well as consultations with governmental and non-governmental stakeholders.2 UNHCR RRNE also shared a draft version of the mapping for expert vetting with Dr Hedvig Lokrantz Bernitz, lecturer in the Department of Law, at Stockholm University. In addition, the key national stakeholders in this area, namely the Ministry of Justice, the Swedish Migration Agency (SMA), the Swedish Tax Agency, and Statistics Sweden received an advance draft of the mapping for comments, which have been largely incorporated by UNHCR RRNE into this final report. UNHCR is very grateful for all the cooperation extended and for the valuable input, constructive feedback and comments provided by the stakeholders throughout the consultative process. The information gathered through the mappings of statelessness in the countries of Northern Europe, consolidated in reports like the current one, is aimed at raising awareness and providing a better understanding among the stakeholders of the situation of stateless persons in the countries concerned, and the extent to which the international standards in this area are implemented in law and practice. UNHCR thus hopes that the findings and recommendations contained in the reports will contribute to the ongoing dialogue between UNHCR, the governments concerned, civil society, and other relevant actors on what steps may need to be taken at the national level in order to bring the respective countries’ national legal frameworks, institutional capacities, and practices fully in line with international standards in the area of prevention and reduction of statelessness and the protection of stateless persons. UNHCR, moreover, hopes that the reports can serve as a starting point for the development of National Action Plans to end statelessness in each of the countries. After an Introduction to statelessness across the globe and the international and regional legal framework for the prevention and reduction of statelessness, and protection of stateless persons, in Section 1, the mapping, in Section 2, provides an overview and analysis of the numbers and basic demographic profiles of the persons who fall within the definition of a stateless person, as set out in Article 1(1) of the 1954 Convention relating to the Status of Stateless Persons3 (“the 1954 Convention”) and which is part of customary international law. As the mapping had already begun in 2012, some of the statistics used for the 1 UNHCR’s Executive Committee Conclusion on Identification, Prevention and Reduction of Statelessness and Protection of Stateless Persons, 6 October 2006, No. 106 (LVII) - 2006, “Encourages UNHCR to undertake and share research, particularly in the regions where little research is done on statelessness, with relevant academic institutions or experts, and governments, so as to promote increased understanding of the nature and scope of the problem of statelessness, to identify stateless populations and to understand reasons which led to statelessness, all of which would serve as a basis for crafting strategies to addressing the problem” in its para. (c), available at: http://www.refworld.org/docid/453497302.html. 2 Some of these consultations were carried out during meetings, by telephone and others by email, and are referenced accordingly in footnotes to this report. 3 UN General Assembly, Convention relating to the Status of Stateless Persons, 28 September 1954, United Nations, Treaty Series, vol. 360, p. 117, available at: http://www.refworld.org/docid/3ae6b3840.html. UNHCR STOCKHOLM, 2016 7