Persons at risk of statelessness who received their birth certificates from authorities in the Republic of Congo. © UNHCR/Hélène Caux
In the Republic of Congo, the Government, with
support from UNHCR, conducted an awareness
raising campaign on birth registration and the
prevention of statelessness. Thirty-five community
volunteers were deployed in Brazzaville, PointeNoire, Dolisie, Sibiti and Gamboma, reaching a total
of 5,000 household, highlighting the need for birth
registration.
In Kenya, UNHCR, the Haki Centre Organization
and the Refugee Coordinator of the US Embassy,
organized a meeting between government
authorities, the Civil Registration Services and
members from the Pemba and Rundi communities
in Kwale and Kilifi counties. The importance of birth
registration and access to services for stateless and
at-risk communities was highlighted and community
representatives raised concerns related to continued
discrimination. During the meetings, the government
authorities committed to continue supporting
community sensitization, mobile birth registration
and improved access to birth registration and
documentation.
In Kenya, the UN Legal Identity Agenda Country
Team submitted a written memorandum to comment
on the National Integrated Identity Management
System (NIIMS)/Huduma Bill. The memorandum
advocates for the inclusion of stateless individuals
in the national registration system and the issuance
of Huduma or service cards to stateless persons to
enable access to government services.
UNHCR > The Campaign to End Statelessness | April – June 2022 Update
In Tanzania, UNHCR and the School of Law of the
University of Dar es Salaam organized an event for
law students, focusing on the international legal
framework on statelessness, UNHCR’s mandate
and the causes and consequences of statelessness.
The session further included discussions with
participants on the legal framework in Tanzania,
and actions that may be required to prevent
statelessness.
In South Africa, UNHCR and the Department of
Home Affairs convened a stakeholder dialogue
on nationality and statelessness, which followed a
high-level dialogue between the UNHCR Assistant
High Commissioner for Protection and the Minister
of Home Affairs in January 2022. Participants
developed a draft National Action Plan, validated
the Terms of Reference for a qualitative study on
statelessness in South Africa, and adopted concrete
resolutions to be implemented by the Government
of South Africa and strengthen stakeholder
engagement. The Director General of the
Department of Home Affairs announced that South
Africa will be acceding to the UN Statelessness
Conventions following national consultations.
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