KEY GLOBAL THEMATIC FINDINGS nate at the global level. As the Together We Can report sets out, denial of the right to nationality, documentation and legal status as well as inequality and discrimination represent the main structural challenges impacting stateless people in a cyclical and intergenerational way. The other three thematic issues addressed in the global report - right to health, socioeconomic rights and civil and political rights - relate to some of the main rights deprivations stateless people endure, exacerbated by the pandemic. These challenges are interrelated and mutually reinforcing, heightening the cost of statelessness, generating new risks of statelessness and and the rights of stateless people. THE RIGHT TO HEALTH: The right to health should have universal application regardless of race, religion, legal status or other criteria. A year into the pandemic however, healthcare related challenges faced by stateless people have only heightened. The cost of healthcare continues to be an insurmountable hurdle for many stateless people who are excluded from healthcare plans, subsidies, insurance schemes and free healthcare. The lack of documentation has further prevented access to healthcare, while fear of arrest, detention and vated a culture of fear around accessing healthcare for stateless and undocumented people. The inability to carry out effective preventative measures including social distancing and wearing PPE, as well as lack of access to sanitation and hygiene products and facilities due to living and working conditions, also places stateless communities at great risk. The mental health impacts of lockdowns, loss of livelihoods, exposure to health risks and starvation and exclusion There is an urgent need to ensure inclusivity in the roll out of COVID-19 vaccines, rising above vaccine nationalism. Unfortunately, we are vaccine distribution and worrying initiatives including vaccine passports which would further exclude stateless people. SOCIO-ECONOMIC RIGHTS: When the pandemic took hold in early 2020, state responses prioritised citizens to the exclusion and detriment of migrants, refugees and stateless people. Over a year into the crisis, there has been hardly any shift in the approach to social and economic support by states and pact on employment and income and consequently the loss of livelihoods amongst the stateless and those at risk of statelessness. Jobs are mainly found in the informal sector which have been brought to a standstill with the implementation of lockdowns and curfews. There are further barriers to education during lockdowns due to the nature of online classes and the need for access to equipment and the internet. CIVIL AND POLITICAL RIGHTS: In order to address the threat to public health, most States have implemented restrictions which limit civil and political rights. Some states have also introduced more permanent restrictions. Stateless communities and those whose nationality is at risk face ongoing restrictions and rights violations which, due to pre-existing conditions, have a disproportionately devastating impact. Arbitrary detention, the risk of arrest and fear of harassment has impacted stateless populations and those whose nationality is at risk. For those in detention, there is an increased risk of infection due to the inability to adequately social distance or self-isolate. Restrictions on freedom of movement have exacerbated the impacts of COVID-19 including for those trying to seek healthcare and education outside of refugee camps and has further had an impact on livelihoods and family reunions. THE RIGHT TO NATIONALITY, DOCUMENTATION AND LEGAL STATUS: COVID-19 related measures have impacted the right to nationality, documentation and legal status in deeply concerning ways. Disruptions to crucial civil registration procedures have resulted in delays and backlogs leaving stateless people and those whose nationality is at risk in limbo, completely vulnerable to the multiple effects of COVID-19. Such documentation and registration challenges also subject people to longer-term risks of statelessness. Unregistered births and subsequent non-issuance of IDs can heighten the risk of statelessness, particularly among minority and border communities and those with migrant heritage. Asylum and statelessness determination procedures have also been disrupted, as have permanent residence applications, visa processes and other consular services. EQUALITY AND NON-DISCRIMINATION: Discrimination continues to be an underlying and entrenched driving force behind statelessness worldwide. There has been a rise in hate speech, xenophobia and racism. Minority and list political narratives and used as scapegoats for the spread of infection, including to distract from the failings of political leaders. Gender where gender discriminatory nationality laws deny nationality to children. Increased cases of gender-based violence have also been reported, where, particularly in the country contexts with gender discriminatory nationality laws, women are unable to extract themselves from unsafe situations. For a more detailed overview of these global please refer the full report.25 TOGETHER WE CAN: A ROADPMAP TO ADDRESS THE COVID-19 IMPACT ON STATELESS PEOPLE This roadmap serves as a framework for resolving and addressing the structural discrimination and exclusion of stateless people during times of COVID-19 and beyond. The starting point is that change is within our grasp and can be achieved through creative, committed and courageous action. Together we can and together we must address the structural discrimination underlying statelessness, protect the rights of stateless people and meet their emergency needs. The Roadmap informs and guides the necessary inclusive responses of multiple stakeholders including governments, UN actors, humanitarian agencies, donors and NGOs. 23