DESK REVIEW ON POPULATIONS AT RISK OF STATELESSNESS they reached the age of majority are likely to be recognized as stateless persons. The Philippine Nikkei-jin Legal Support Center (PNLSC), a Japanese non-government organization (NGO) has identified over 3,800 PJD across the Philippines based on a series of 13 surveys commissioned by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Japan since 1995.14 Most PJD identified so far by the PNLSC are children of Filipino mothers and Japanese fathers. This desk review supports Action Point 7 of the National Action Plan (NAP) to End Statelessness by 2024, which seeks to continue the study of statelessness in order to improve qualitative and quantitative data on populations at risk of statelessness in the Philippines and among its nationals, which would support the Government’s statelessnessrelated pledges in 2011.15 It provides recommendations to support the Government’s strategy to end statelessness in the Philippines and among persons of Philippine descent in migratory settings, to support the identification and protection of at-risk populations, resolve existing situations of statelessness or among populations at risk of statelessness, and to prevent new cases from emerging. The Philippines has shown tremendous leadership globally in the protection of refugees and stateless persons.16 It is encouraging to see that the Philippines has further pledged to “continue leadership in Southeast Asia in the development of a human rights framework and provide technical support to other States in dealing with issues relating to stateless persons.”17 The Philippines has demonstrated a capacity to follow through on its pledges by establishing a robust operational framework to implement its commitments under the 1954 Convention Relating to the Status of Stateless Persons (1954 Statelessness Convention) and the 1951 Convention Relating to the Status of Refugees (1951 Refugee Convention) and its 1967 Protocol.18 14 Reported by the Philippine Nikkei-jin Legal Support Centre (PNLSC) through initial consultations with UNHCR on the SURGE Capacity Project. 15 Philippines’ National Action Plan to End Statelessness by 2024 (NAP). The Philippines was the first in Asia to sign the Convention Relating to the Status of Refugees, UN Treaty Series , vol. 189, p. 137 (Philippines accession, 22 July 1981); and Protocol Relating to the Status of Refugees, UN Treaty Series, vol. 606, p. 267 (Philippines accession, 22 July 1981). It was also the first in Asia to establish an Emergency Transit Mechanism, Government of the Philippines, IOM, UNHCR Memorandum of Agreement on Providing Emergency Transit Facilities, 28 Aug 2009. (See: https:// reliefweb.int/report/philippines/philippines-government-iom-unhcr-sign-refugee-transit-agreement). 16 17 Results of the High-Level Segment on Statelessness, October 2019, available at: https://www.unhcr.org/ibelong/results-of-thehigh-level-segment-on-Statelessness/. See Department Circular No. 058 - Establishing the Refugees and Stateless Status Determination Procedure [Philippines], 18 October 2012, available at: https://www.refworld.org/docid/5086932e2.html. 18 8 UNHCR / April 2021