This is an enormously important report. It highlights the structural causes of statelessness, focuses a sharp human rights and anti-discrimination lens on its consequences, and shows how the COVID-19 pandemic heightens risks for the most vulnerable, even though there are possibilities of change. The report’s great value is in bringing together the larger drivers with the mid-level factors, made tangible through rich data from a host of countries and contexts. GITA SEN DIRECTOR, RAMALINGASWAMI CENTRE ON EQUITY AND SOCIAL DETERMINANTS OF HEALTH, GENERAL CO-COORDINATOR, DAWN FEMINIST MONETTE ZARD DIRECTOR, PROGRAM ON FORCED MIGRATION AND HEALTH COLUMBIA UNIVERSITY MAILMAN SCHOOL COVID-19’s disproportionate impact on marginalized groups around the world has highlighted how structural inequities across societies shape and influence the enjoyment of all human rights, including the right to health. Nowhere is this more true than in the context of stateless persons. This excellent and timely report carefully documents how challenges around access to health are magnified for stateless people, and it shows us the way forward through programming that is grounded in the words and perspectives of stateless persons themselves. This valuable addition to the field will help advance our understanding of how to effectively address the rights and needs of this particularly vulnerable group. As a CESF Committee Member, I have noted great initiatives undertaken by Consortium members around the world. These include paralegal community outreach, door-to-door awareness raising, radio shows educating people of their rights, podcasts and interviews targeting stateless communities, documentaries showcasing the exclusion of stateless people and direct support through providing food rations and other emergency relief. These innovative projects have been driven by community-led organisations to speak directly to affected communities and support them to raise their voices. Further, the research undertaken by Consortium members on the impact of COVID-19 on communities affected by statelessness underpins this important report. The roadmap for change has also emerged from the experiences of Consortium members. It is a great example of a bottom-up approach to pursuing change and is grounded in the realities and experiences of stateless people. I hope that UN agencies, states, donors and other actors will rise to the challenge and respond to the roadmap. All of this has been possible due to ISI’s efforts to secure funds and constitute a panel of great minds from different fields. I am honored that I was invited to serve on the committee that supported these great community outreach initiatives. MUSTAFA MAHMOUD YOUSIF SENIOR PROGRAM MANAGER, CITIZENSHIP NAMATI 5