UN Key Messages on Statelessness The way forward: stronger UN advocacy ahead of a 2019 High-Level Event on Ending Statelessness The problem of statelessness affects millions of people worldwide, with devastating consequences that deprive them of legal rights or basic services, leaving them politically and economically marginalized, discriminated against, and particularly vulnerable to exploitation and abuse. The conditions causing statelessness can also give rise to large-scale violence and displacement, as the mass exodus of Rohingya refugees from Myanmar to Bangladesh has demonstrated. An inclusive and just 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development that truly leaves no one behind must include stateless persons and those who are at risk of statelessness. In order to take the UN’s experience in addressing statelessness to scale across the UN system, the SecretaryGeneral has updated his Guidance Note and issued a set of Key Messages (below) for UN entities to take joint and decisive action. Achievements made by States in addressing statelessness will be showcased at an October 2019 high-level event in Geneva where States will be asked to pledge concrete actions that will lead to substantial results by 2024.1 UN entities are asked to advocate with States toward tangible progress and firm pledges. This advocacy should include coordinated UNCT efforts at the field level as well as a strong Headquarters voice, drawing on the messages below. Key Messages (General) ➢ Ending statelessness worldwide is an ambitious but achievable goal with strong momentum behind it. UNHCR has launched a Campaign to End Statelessness by 2024 (#IBelong Campaign), and with UNICEF, has formed a Coalition on Every Child’s Right to a Nationality. For more information about the #IBelong Campaign, see http://www.unhcr.org/ibelong/. ➢ The human impact of statelessness is severe. While the enjoyment of most human rights should not be dependent upon having a nationality, in reality, without any nationality, stateless persons typically are not able to enjoy basic rights. Statelessness affects socio-economic rights such as education, employment, social welfare, housing and healthcare, as well as civil and political rights such as freedom of movement, freedom from arbitrary detention, and political participation. For helpful basic information about statelessness, see What is Statelessness, available at http://www.refworld.org/docid/5829c3514.html. ➢ Statelessness is a women’s and children’s rights issue. Gender discrimination in nationality laws that makes it difficult or impossible for mothers to confer nationality to their children negatively affects mothers as well as their children’s right to a nationality. All children have a right to a legal identity and to full belonging. For more information about how statelessness affects children and their families, see I am Here, I Belong: The Urgent Need to End Childhood Statelessness, available at http://www.refworld.org/docid/563368b34.html. ➢ Statelessness is a youth issue. Without a nationality, and the legal rights associated with it, youth are particularly susceptible to forced/unpaid labor, trafficking, forced/early marriage and other forms of exploitation. The specific ways in which statelessness affects young people should be considered when data is gathered, issues are analysed, and policies are developed. 1 Regional consultations envisioned to be held in the run-up to the 2019 High Level Event may provide opportunities for senior leadership engagement. 1