Fortunately, the relationships that exist between marginalization, poverty, conflict and
fragility are better understood today, as reflected by the Sustainable Development
Agenda, in which States have resolved to “leave no one behind”. No one is left farther
behind today than stateless persons, who are often left unable to attend school, to
work legally, to open a bank account, or to see a doctor. Their exclusion also affects
the prosperity and stability of their communities and societies. Indeed, recent events
have unfortunately served to demonstrate all too clearly that statelessness remains a
potential cause of social upheaval, conflict and displacement, as well as a grave human
rights problem for the individuals concerned. And yet the solutions to statelessness are
technically simple ones, as this publication helps to illustrate. The #IBelong Campaign to
End Statelessness is now approaching its mid-way point, and more needs to be done by
all States to put an end to this blight, once and for all. UNHCR and the IPU hope that the
technical guidance provided in this new handbook will help motivate States to undertake
the nationality law reforms still needed.
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