Panel discussion on statelessness “There are two Conventions related to statelessness. One is more about protecting people that are stateless. The other one is more about working to eliminate statelessness. That is why we are campaigning so hard for States to accede to these Conventions. … This is highly significant. It is symbolic, and it is also very practical because once you sign a Convention, then you have to develop legislation that matches that Convention and brings your work on statelessness in line with international standards, and this is where my organization can be helpful. … We understand the big challenges that States face in developing legislation and applying it, and this is why I think we need to work together on that.” Filippo Grandi, United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees “I have the privilege today to be here and share my story. Many stateless people couldn’t have this, and they wouldn’t have this because they don’t have their own documents. [They are] not even [able] to travel and enter this building. So what we have to do is to empower those stateless people, to give them the opportunity and the chance to raise awareness. How are you going to solve a problem if you don’t listen to the people facing it? My story is just one story. You have millions and millions of other stories. … So, today, you have the power in your hands to change people’s lives. To make them really realize that they belong, and they are human beings. The only message I have today is: make this change. Make this world a better place.” Maha Mamo, Statelessness activist “The mandate of minorities is very relevant in this context, because our work is a work aimed at promoting inclusion, promoting integration of societies. ... [In cases of] succession of States, [like] in the case of the Soviet Union, or the former Yugoslavia, … we saw that internal administrative borders, that didn’t really divide people … suddenly became, overnight, international borders, and they really divided people, and they created, also, legal issues. Some of these problems turned into political problems and generated conflicts. … Of course, these conflicts have an impact on people, on the identity of people. … You see instances of people who still have Soviet passports, trying to get home with those, and not being able to travel, and having a limited degree of rights. Our role is … to look at this complex set of issues, and address them”. Lamberto Zannier, High Commissioner on National Minorities of the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe U N H C R > H I G H - L E V E L S E G M E N T O N S T A T E L E S S N E S S : R E S U LT S A N D H I G H L I G H T S 11