Everything you need to know about statelessness

Ensuring gender equal nationality laws is key to ending statelessness

If statelessness is to be eradicated, it is vital that all States ensure that women and men have equal nationality rights – rights that govern one’s…

'Transforming Our World’ - How can we make sure no one is left behind?

In September, the leaders of the United Nations Member States will meet to adopt the global agenda for development post-2015, the document…

The jus sanguinis bias of Europe and what it means for childhood statelessness

Who is more Dutch: a child born to Dutch nationals in Australia (child A), or a child born to Australian nationals in the Netherlands (child B)?…

Romania’s stateless children – still unknown, still invisible

When I started working on statelessness in 2009 I was told by more experienced colleagues from civil society organizations, as well as by public…

A look back at seven years at the helm of UNHCR’s Statelessness Section

When it comes to issues of forced displacement, there is a massive amount of doctrine, operational guidance and academic writing. There are a range…

Why Malta needs to accede to the UN Statelessness Conventions

“If I was granted citizenship now, it would be like having been inside this room for twelve years [referring to a very small and crammed counselling…

Statelessness in Italy: What’s next?

“It is time to give voice to the strangers among strangers”. With these words, journalist Gad Lerner introduced the first public meeting on…

Adding the voice of National Human Rights Institutions towards ending statelessness in Europe

‘A baby is born stateless every ten minutes’. This powerful image underlines UNHCR’s ‘I belong’ campaign, launched in November 2014, and aimed at…

The Road to Dignity Beyond Status: Responding to the Secretary-General’s Synthesis Report on the Post-2015 Agenda

Today’s world is a troubled world: one in turmoil and turbulence, with no shortage of painful political upheavals. Societies are under serious…

A welcome first step towards tackling statelessness in Poland

This year Poland celebrates 25 years of freedom, an anniversary marked by the country’s first democratic vote, the end of communist regime and…

Statelessness in Ukraine

HIAS works worldwide to protect refugees whose lives are in danger for being who they are. In 14 countries across five continents, we ensure that…