analysis are derived from 2011 and 2012. Nonetheless, UNHCR RRNE has striven to include more recent statistical data wherever possible, in view of the timeframes and existing limitations. The qualitative aspect is based on a review of asylum cases that involved stateless persons and persons considered as of “unknown” nationality by the Swedish authorities. In Section 3, the mapping examines the legal and procedural framework for identifying stateless persons and determining their status, and their enjoyment of rights, vis-à-vis the standards set out in the 1954 Convention. The mapping thereafter, in Section 4, examines the measures in place to prevent statelessness from occurring in Sweden, and for reducing the stateless population, based on the standards set out in the 1961 Convention on the Reduction of Statelessness4 (“the 1961 Convention”). Finally, Section 5 contains a summary of the main findings from the mapping of statelessness in Sweden, and UNHCR’s overall recommendations on measures needed to bring the national legal framework, practice and administrative capacity in line with the standards set out in the 1954 and 1961 Conventions. The summary and recommendations in Section 5 are complemented by slightly more detailed conclusions and recommendations in Sections 2.4, 3.5 and 4.4 which, together with Section 5, can serve as an Executive Summary of the mapping. The mapping highlights both positive efforts to prevent and reduce statelessness in Sweden and to protect stateless persons, as well as current gaps and challenges in these areas, and makes concrete recommendations designed to help bring Swedish law and practice further in line with the norms and standards reflected in the two UN Statelessness Conventions. UNHCR thus hopes that this mapping can assist the relevant national actors in their efforts to address statelessness, and remains ready to support these efforts. 1.1 Statelessness across the globe Statelessness is a global phenomenon. UNHCR estimates that there are at least 10 million stateless persons worldwide. The following sections look at the definition of a “stateless person”, the causes of statelessness, and the common consequences of being stateless. 1.1.1 Defining a “stateless person” The definition of a “stateless person” is set forth in Article 1(1) of the 1954 Convention, which provides that a “stateless person” is “a person who is not considered as a national by any State under the operation of its law”. The International Law Commission has concluded that the Article 1(1) definition of a “stateless person” is part of customary international law.5 The present report focuses on persons coming under this definition.6 8 4 UN General Assembly, Convention on the Reduction of Statelessness, 30 August 1961, United Nations, Treaty Series, vol. 989, p. 175, available at: http://www.refworld.org/docid/3ae6b39620.html. 5 See the International Law Commission, Draft Articles on Diplomatic Protection with Commentaries, 2006, p. 49 (stating that the Article 1 definition can “no doubt be considered as having acquired a customary nature”), available at: http://www.refworld.org/docid/525e7929d.html. 6 The UNHCR Handbook on Protection of Stateless Persons explains that “persons who fall within the scope of Article 1(1) of the 1954 Convention are sometimes referred to as ‘de jure’ stateless persons,” UNHCR, Handbook on Protection of Stateless Persons, 30 June 2014, para. 7, (“Handbook”), available at: http: //www.refworld.org/docid/53b676aa4.html. Individuals who have a nationality but are outside the country of their nationality and are denied diplomatic and consular protection accorded to other nationals by their state of nationality have been referred to as “de facto” stateless. See UNHCR, Expert Meeting – The Concept of Stateless Persons under International Law (“Prato Conclusions”), May 2010, pp. 5-8, available at: http://www.refworld.org/docid/4ca1ae002.html. The term “de jure” is not found in any international treaty and is not used in this report, yet it must be emphasized that the present report does not include “de facto” stateless persons. M A P P I N G S TAT E L E S S N E S S I N S W E D E N