JANUARY – JUNE 2025
UNHCR’s Legal Identity Project in Jordan
(February – May 2025) identified documentation
gaps among refugees and provided legal
counselling to address them, including via
innovative methods like SMS self-reporting. Over
1,800 individuals lacked proof of nationality, and
by project end, 53% had resolved or were on track
to resolve their cases, while others continued
receiving support. The initiative significantly
reduced statelessness risks and strengthened
refugee protection and return preparedness.
Action 9. Accede to the UN Statelessness
Conventions
In January, the Ministry of digital development of
the Kyrgyz Republic published draft laws on
accession to the 1954 and 1961 UN
Statelessness
Conventions
for
public
consultation. As part of the consultation, UNHCR
has reviewed the draft laws and submitted formal
recommendations. This follows the Republic’s
pledge at the 2019 GRF to advance accession to
these Conventions.
Participants of the validation workshop of the Research
Report on Statelessness in South Africa. ©UNHCR/Tendani
Sibuyi
Action 11. Ensure that stateless persons can
enjoy their rights
In June, Hungary amended its legislation to
guarantee access to healthcare for children
recognized as stateless in state care – rights that
were previously granted only in practice. This
change ensures comprehensive healthcare for
stateless children, often infants, abandoned by
their parents.
In March, Slovenia acceded to the 1961
Convention on the Reduction of Statelessness.
The accession fulfils Slovenia’s pledge at the
2023 pledge.
In April, Turkmenistan amended its Law on
Migration to allow stateless people to obtain
electronic visas via a digital platform, aligning with
national digitalization goals and facilitating travel.
Action 10. Improve quantitative and
qualitative data on stateless populations
Other countrylevel updates
In July, Kazakhstan launched a nationwide
statelessness identification and documentation
campaign following the success of the 2024
campaign, whereby over 600 persons with
undetermined nationality or lack of documents
received legal advice.
In June, in Kenya, the National focal point on
statelessness, Immigration Department and NGO
partner Haki Centre undertook a mission to
Kericho to finalize and validate the Rwandan
community self-register in order to improve data
on stateless populations.
In South Africa, Botswana, and the Kingdom
of Eswatini qualitative reports on statelessness
were finalized and validated by the respective
governments.
UNHCR / DIP Statelessness Section
In January, the Civil Society Network on
Statelessness in the Philippines developed a
three-year workplan, reinforcing its commitment
to the National Action Plan to End Statelessness
and protection of stateless populations. In March,
the National Action Plan Technical Working
Group Co-Leads agreed to begin evaluating the
plan to inform future planning. They also
committed to deeper engagement with the Global
Alliance’s Thematic Working Groups.
Following the adoption of the new Law on
Stateless Persons,
Mali’s Interministerial
Committee to Combat Statelessness, led by the
Ministry of Justice and Human Rights with
UNHCR’s support, met in June to draft the legal
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