1. Introduction In November 2014, UNHCR launched a Global Campaign to End Statelessness in 10 Years. The strategy for the Campaign is set out in a Global Action Plan which contains 10 actions that need to be taken to end statelessness. States are encouraged to adopt National Action Plans that include those actions necessary to end statelessness in their own national contexts. In preparation for the Campaign, the UNHCR Regional Representation for Northern Europe (UNHCR RRNE) has, over the past two years, conducted statelessness mappings in each of the eight countries in the Northern Europe region. The mapping in Iceland has been conducted by an independent consultant, Ms. Hrefna Dögg Gunnarsdóttir, working under the joint supervision of UNHCR RRNE and the Institute of Human Rights at the University of Iceland, and made possible thanks to funds kindly provided by the Ministry of the Interior. The information gathered through these mappings, and consolidated in reports like the current one, is aimed at providing a better understanding of the scope of statelessness in the countries concerned. UNHCR hopes that the findings and recommendations contained in the respective reports will contribute to the ongoing dialogue between UNHCR, the Governments concerned, civil society and other relevant actors on what steps may need to be taken at national level in order to bring the respective countries’ national legal frameworks, institutional capacity and practice fully in line with the international and European standards in the area of prevention and reduction of statelessness, and the protection of stateless persons. UNHCR moreover hopes that the reports can serve as a starting point for the development of National Action Plans to end statelessness in each of the countries. The mapping of statelessness in Iceland provides an overview and analysis of the numbers and basic demographic profiles of the persons who are stateless in Iceland, and examines existing legislation and procedures governing the recognition of their status and their enjoyment of rights. As the mapping was initiated in 2012, the statistics used for the analysis are generally derived from 2011 or earlier. The mapping highlights positive aspects of addressing statelessness in Iceland, as well as some current gaps and challenges, and suggests possible ways of improving the position of stateless persons in Iceland. UNHCR hopes that this mapping can contribute to a better understanding of and awareness around the issue of statelessness at the national level, and help encourage the relevant national actors to further investigate how to address statelessness. The demographic section of this report consists mainly of quantitative analysis with some qualitative elements. The quantitative analysis includes a statistical overview and analysis as well as a review of the registration methods and practices. The identification methodology, i.e. how it is determined that a person is stateless and how stateless persons are identified in Iceland is also looked into. The qualitative aspect is based on a review of asylum cases from 2008 to 2011 that involved stateless persons and persons considered as of unknown nationality by the Icelandic authorities. The main purpose of the legal analysis section of the report is to investigate the extent to which Iceland today complies with the standards set out in the 1954 Convention relating to the Status of Stateless Persons1 (1954 Convention) and the 1961 Convention on the Reduction of Statelessness2 (1961 Convention) and other 1 UN General Assembly, Convention Relating to the Status of Stateless Persons, 28 September 1954, United Nations, Treaty Series, vol. 360, p. 117, available at: http://www.refworld.org/docid/3ae6b3840.html 2 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 UNHCR REGIONAL REPRESENTATION FOR NORTHERN EUROPE , DECEMBER 2014 9