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The importance of ensuring effective access to justice for stateless
persons and provide adequate information to all potential stateless
individuals in a language they understand, including effective access to legal
aid and legal representation;
The need to adapt judicial and administrative procedures, in particular for
women, unaccompanied children, and victims of trafficking;
The need to raise awareness about positive contributions of stateless
people to society, with a broader dissemination to decision-makers and
society;
The importance of enhancing co-operation between member states by
organising technical meetings of experts on complex statelessness
determination cases;
The requirement for specific training to national authorities, including legal
practitioners to ensure a better legal understanding and technical knowledge of
statelessness; and
The need to facilitate the naturalisation of recognised stateless
individuals, in particular children.
88.
Ms Gillian Triggs emphasized that eradicating statelessness is doable and requires
political will. Mr Christophe Poirel underlined that solving statelessness is a “win-win situation”
both for stateless persons and for member states if they allow stateless persons to contribute
to their societies.
89.
Addressing statelessness requires collective efforts and a “whole-of society approach”.
Joining forces and the need to build stronger partnerships between civil society, international
and regional organisations, NGOs and member states are key for the elimination of
statelessness in Europe.
90.
As demonstrated by these events, the involvement of stateless individuals enables
practitioners to learn from their experiences. Christiana Bukalo underlined: “it is one thing to
sympathize with people who suffer from a certain disadvantage, but it is a completely different
thing to actually experience those disadvantages.” Inclusive consultations and participatory
actions remain an important dimension to address policy gaps and practical difficulties and find
adapted solutions.
91.
In conclusion, the Council of Europe and UNHCR’s representatives reiterated their
organisations’ commitment to work with all relevant actors in order to support member states
in establishing or, where appropriate, improving the functioning of statelessness determination
procedures, and for strengthening the protection of stateless persons’ rights.
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