OVERVIEW Statement of Intent TO BRING AN END TO STATELESSNESS within 10 years by resolving existing situations and preventing the emergence of new cases of statelessness. Introduction IN A WORLD COMPRISED OF STATES, the problem of statelessness remains a glaring anomaly with devastating impacts on the lives of at least 10 million people around the world who live without any nationality.1 In October 2013, the UN High Commissioner for Refugees called for the “total commitment of the international community to end statelessness.”2 The Global Action Plan to End Statelessness: 2014–2024 (Global Action Plan), developed in consultation with States, civil society and international organisations, sets out a guiding framework made up of 10 Actions that need to be taken to end statelessness within 10 years. Provided that there is adequate leadership and effective implementation of the Global Action Plan, statelessness can be ended within a decade. THE GLOBAL ACTION PLAN INCLUDES ACTIONS TO: • • • 1 2 4 resolve existing situations of statelessness; prevent new cases of statelessness from emerging; and better identify and protect stateless persons. The terms ‘nationality’ and ‘citizenship’ are used interchangeably throughout the Global Action Plan. High Commissioner’s Closing Remarks to the 64th Session of UNHCR’s Executive Committee, 4 October 2013: http://unhcr.org/525539159.html. UNHCR > 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