JANUARY – JUNE 2025 Africa, attended by 12 out of 16 Member States, reviewed progress on GRF pledges, including statelessness prevention. The meeting facilitated sharing of best practices and ways of addressing challenges to accelerate progress. Most stateless people in Central Asia are ex-citizens of the former Soviet Union, or their descendants, who have not yet acquired or confirmed citizenship of the independent States. This was the case for Nataliya and her family in Kazakhstan. As only States can grant or confirm nationality, the cooperation of governments is crucial to end statelessness. ©UNHCR/Elyor Nema In February, UNHCR launched the Central Asia Key Terms Guide in seven languages to support journalists, students, NGOs, lawyers, and partners in using accurate and consistent terminology on statelessness and forced displacement across the region. Upcoming events In September, a regional conference on GRF pledges is expected to be organized jointly with the Southern African Development Community (SADC). The event will feature a dedicated side session with Member States to review progress on the implementation of the SADC Action Plan on the eradication of statelessness (2022-2029). UNHCR / DIP Statelessness Section In November, UNHCR South Africa Multi-Country Office will support the International Association for Refugee and Migration Judges to facilitate a side event on statelessness at the Annual Conference in Nairobi, Kenya. The Global Alliance to End Statelessness will be launching its new Knowledge Webinar Series, bringing together governments, civil society and stateless-led organizations to share practical lessons and collaborative solutions. The first webinar on ‘Resolving statelessness together’ will take place on 10 September 2025. The webinar is open to all interested. Please register here. A new report, ‘Leaving No One Behind: Statelessness and the Sustainable Development Goals’, will be launched in October. Information about the launch event will be shared closer to the date. 7