The African Committee of Experts has stated that: 61
“While it is always no fault of their own, stateless children often inherit an uncertain future. For instance,
they might fail to benefit from protections and constitutional rights granted by the State. These include
difficulty to travel freely, difficulty in accessing justice procedures when necessary, as well as the
challenge of finding oneself in a legal limbo vulnerable to expulsion from their home country.
Statelessness is particularly devastating to children in the realisation of their socio-economic rights
such as access to health care and access to education. In sum, being stateless as a child is generally an
antithesis to the best interests of children.”
61
Institute for Human Rights and Development in Africa (IHRDA) and Open Society Justice Initiative on behalf of Children of Nubian descent in
Kenya v The Government of Kenya Decision: No 002/Com/002/2009 paragraph 46, in paragraph 86 of General Comment Np. 2, n109 above
WE ARE LIKE “STRAY ANIMALS”
THOUSANDS LIVING ON THE MARGINS DUE TO STATELESSNESS IN ZIMBABWE
Amnesty International
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