Joint Submission to the Human Rights Council at the 37th Session of the Universal Periodic Review. Austria Introduction 1. Asylkoordination Österreich, Diakonie Flüchtlingsdienst, the European Network on Statelessness (ENS) and the Institute on Statelessness and Inclusion (ISI) make this joint submission to the Universal Periodic Review (UPR), on the right to a nationality and human rights challenges pertaining to statelessness in Austria. 2. Asylkoordination Österreich1 is a registered non-profit making organisation that provides a network for all associations, initiatives and individuals supporting refugees in Austria. Since 1991, Asylkoordination Österreich implements projects, documentations and research in the area of asylum, migration and integration. By organising campaigns and doing advocacy work, the organisation raises awareness and provides information to the public, journalists and politicians. Asylkoordination Österreich has worked intensely on the situation of unaccompanied minors and access to intercultural psychotherapy for refugees as well as providing workshops and trainings for legal counselling organisations and authorities. The organisation also offers workshops on asylum issues and anti-racism work in schools. 3. Diakonie Flüchtlingsdienst2 works in the areas of counselling, care and support, housing and accommodation, education and training, integration, and medical and psychotherapeutic treatment with asylum seekers, refugees, migrants, and Austrians alike. Diakonie Flüchtlingsdienst works with its clients as equals, in line with emancipatory and holistic principles. In addition, Diakonie Flüchtlingsdienst works actively to prevent racism and discrimination through training and projects. In its public relations and lobbying work, Diakonie Flüchtlingsdienst advocates for the legal, social, and economic equality of foreigners who are permanent residents in Austria and Austrians alike. Its approach is human rights based, particularly regarding asylum, equality, unity of the family, and for the right to a fair trial. 4. The European Network on Statelessness (ENS)3 is a civil society alliance of NGOs, lawyers, academics, and other independent experts committed to addressing statelessness in Europe. Based in London, it currently has over 150 members in 41 European countries. ENS organises its work around three pillars – law and policy development, awareness-raising, and capacitybuilding. ENS provides expert advice and support to a range of stakeholders, including governments. This submission partially draws on information and analysis from ENS’s 1 For more information about Asylkoordination Österreich, see: https://www.asyl.at/de/ For more information about Diakonie Flüchlingsdienst, see: https://fluechtlingsdienst.diakonie.at 3 For more information about the European Network on Statelessness, see: www.statelessness.eu. 2 1