10 Actions to End Statelessness HOW CAN THIS ACTION BE IMPLEMENTED? Increasing the number of States party to the 1954 Convention is closely linked to Action 6, as it requires establishment of determination procedures and legal frameworks for the protection of stateless persons. Increased accession to the 1961 Convention is essential to address gaps in nationality laws which can lead to statelessness, in particular those set out in Actions 2 and 5. HOW CAN UNHCR HELP? Major Activities: 1. Advocate with relevant ministries and parliaments to highlight the benefits of acceding to the Statelessness Conventions, highlighting pledges to accede, commitments made by States in the context of the Universal Periodic Review of the Human Rights Council and UN human rights treaty body recommendations where relevant. 2. Highlight value of the Statelessness Conventions in multilateral fora. 3. Provide technical advice on formalities for accession as well as necessary steps for implementation of the Statelessness Conventions. WHAT EXISTING CIRCUMSTANCES CAN FACILITATE IMPLEMENTATION OF THIS ACTION? • • Pledges to accede made by 34 States at UNHCR’s 2011 Ministerial Meeting. Acceptance by 25 States of recommendations to accede to the Statelessness Conventions made in the context of the Universal Periodic Review of the Human Rights Council, recommendations made to particular States by UN human rights treaty bodies and special procedures. There is significant forward momentum on this issue. Since 2011, when UNHCR launched a campaign to increase accessions to the Statelessness Conventions, 27 States have acceded to one or both Conventions. WHAT ARE THE OBSTACLES TO IMPLEMENTING THIS ACTION? • Given the position of some States with regard to international treaties relating to human rights, it is unlikely that universal accession to the two Statelessness Conventions can be achieved in the next decade. The target is therefore ambitious and achievable, but short of universal accession. U N H C R > G LO B A L AC T I O N P L A N TO E N D S TAT E L E S S N E S S : 2 0 1 4 – 2 0 2 4 29