(button) all sections (button) search [diplomat_logo_black.jpg] read the diplomat, know the asia-pacific (button) my account sign in subscribe central asia east asia oceania south asia southeast asia | security politics diplomacy economy society environment | dri magazine | all regions * central asia * east asia * oceania * south asia * southeast asia topics * diplomacy * economy * environment * opinion * politics * security * society blogs * asean beat * asia defense * asia life * china power * crossroads asia * flashpoints * oceania * pacific money * the debate * the koreas * the pulse * tokyo report * trans-pacific view more * features * interviews * photo essays * podcasts * risk intelligence * videos magazinethe asia-pacific in 2021: what to expect? january 2021 the asia-pacific in 2021: what to expect? the diplomat * home page * about us * contact us * write for us * * advertise * syndicate * privacy * newsletter * subscriptions the debate will india become the home of the largest number of stateless people? recent features how biden can navigate a new era in south korean politics diplomacy how biden can navigate a new era in south korean politics india’s invisible women farmers society india’s invisible women farmers can singapore keep its precious hawker culture alive? society can singapore keep its precious hawker culture alive? j-20: the stealth fighter that changed pla watching forever security j-20: the stealth fighter that changed pla watching forever dhanushkodi fisherfolk: 50 years of life on the edge photo essays dhanushkodi fisherfolk: 50 years of life on the edge what if the afghan peace process fails? security what if the afghan peace process fails? ‘global britain’: the uk in the indo-pacific diplomacy ‘global britain’: the uk in the indo-pacific what are asian governments saying about the storming of the us capitol? diplomacy what are asian governments saying about the storming of the us capitol? uyghurs wary of turkey’s pending extradition deal with china diplomacy uyghurs wary of turkey’s pending extradition deal with china what is the truth about covid-19 in north korea? economy what is the truth about covid-19 in north korea? 6 suggestions for biden’s china policy diplomacy 6 suggestions for biden’s china policy the strategic implications of the china-eu investment deal diplomacy the strategic implications of the china-eu investment deal the debate will india become the home of the largest number of stateless people? international pressure to ensure india fully respects the rights of all its people is urgently needed. by rudabeh shahid, champa patel and ravi hemadri for the diplomat august 30, 2019 will india become the home of the largest number of stateless people? people whose names were left out in the national register of citizens (nrc) draft stand in a queue to collect forms to file appeals near a nrc center on the outskirts of gauhati, india, monday, aug. 13, 2018. credit: ap photo/anupam nathadvertisement on august 5, the bharatiya janata party (bjp), india’s ruling party, controversially stripped the state of jammu and kashmir of its autonomy. prime minister narendra modi and the hindu-nationalist bjp have long argued that muslim-majority kashmir should not have special status and that the state was marred by terrorism and corruption. this development highlights the prevalence of hindu-muslim inter-communal tensions since the bjp took office in 2014. while the focus on kashmir is important, international attention on this issue is masking the ongoing disenfranchisement of a large muslim population in assam, a state in northeastern india. the national register of citizens (nrc) process has put almost 4 million people, largely bengali muslims, at risk of being made stateless. the un high commissioner for refugees estimates that there are 10 million stateless people worldwide. with this one act, india risks becoming the home of the largest number of stateless people in the world. what led to the nrc? anti-immigration sentiments have lingered in assam for decades, the roots of which can be traced back to india’s colonial history. after the british conquered the region in 1826, they drastically altered assam’s demographic structure. the immigration of bengalis from neighboring east bengal was incentivized as the british needed workers for their agrarian base. in 1983, hundreds of bengali muslims were killed by assamese nationalists during a massacre in nellie, central assam. since then, there remains deep friction between these ethnic groups, affecting assamese society to this day. diplomat brief weekly newsletter n get briefed on the story of the week, and developing stories to watch across the asia-pacific. get the newsletter in 1985, prime minister rajiv gandhi signed an accord with assamese nationalists to create a citizenship register. according to this register, anyone who entered india after midnight of march 24, 1971 (the day before bangladesh declared its independence) was considered a foreigner. however, no real advances were made on the registry until its revival in the summer of 2018. enjoying this article? click here to subscribe for full access. just $5 a month. failures of the nrc process when the bjp campaigned for state elections in 2016, its manifesto was to publish the nrc as soon as possible. when the first draft of the nrc was published in the summer of 2018, it was revealed that more than 12 percent of the assam population, or almost 4 million people (mainly of bengali ethnicity and largely muslim) didn’t make the cut. it is expected that the final nrc list, which is scheduled to be published on august 31, will have roughly the same number of people omitted. the nrc process is a highly bureaucratic and paper-based exercise. applicants must produce proof of their family’s residence in assam prior to 1971. having such documentation is difficult in assam, where 30 percent of the population are illiterate and live below the poverty line. in some cases, even army personnel have not found their names on the nrc list. this process contradicts international norms where the burden of nationality determination lies with the state not the individual. advertisement procedural problems are also prevalent, for example instances where identities are mixed up because people share similar names; confusion due to multiple marriages within the muslim community; and simple clerical errors to names, dates, and ages. in addition, many people have lost documentation as a result of displacement from flooding, river erosion, and ethnic violence over the years. the government has announced that those excluded from the nrc will have 120 days to appeal their cases and establish indian citizenship in front of the appellate authority, locally known as foreigner tribunals. the tribunals have been criticized for being opaque and arbitrary in their proceedings and have been marred by errors. furthermore, there is no legal provision exempting children from standing trial. un rapporteurs have also commented that the lack of clarity between different processes (not just the nrc process, but also electoral roll information and separate judicial processes before the tribunals) leads to the risk of arbitrary and biased decision-making. this is further reinforced by the bjp’s current efforts to pass the citizenship amendment bill 2016, which makes it easier for immigrants from pakistan, bangladesh and afghanistan to obtain citizenship – as long as they are not muslim. this clearly discriminatory bill, however, puts the bjp in tension with state officials and pressure groups in assam who don’t want any bengali “foreigners,” whatever their religion. lastly, delays could leave people living in limbo with their citizenship status in doubt for months, if not years, as appeals through the high court and supreme court take place. faced with such an abject situation, some residents have died by suicide and high rates of negative mental health have been reported. the nrc and potential statelessness the impending statelessness catastrophe in assam has been seen before. in the 1980s the bhutanese government stripped the lhotshampas, a nepali ethnic group, of their citizenship and forced them to leave the country. more recently, the rohingyas, a stateless and mostly muslim ethnic group residing in myanmar, fled to bangladesh after a wave of attacks. thousands of individuals in assam are already in detention camps after having their citizenship questioned. several new detention camps are being readied to house those expected to become stateless at the end of the month. already dealing with the rohingya crisis on one border, bangladesh has expressly stated that it will not accept those india deems “foreign.” the risk of indefinite detention without any recourse looms large. furthermore, the nrc deadline coincides with the constitutional amendments on kashmir, begging the question: is the bjp’s plan to keep the focus on kashmir to ensure little scrutiny of what is happening in assam? enjoying this article? click here to subscribe for full access. just $5 a month. as the world’s largest democracy, india paints itself on the international stage as a supporter of international norms and rule of law. but such talk is shallow if india is not held accountable for its actions. in 2017 the world was shocked at the brutality suffered by one million rohingyas who fled violence unleashed by the burmese military junta. a new statelessness crisis is looming in south asia, which could affect almost 4 million people. international pressure to ensure there is due process and clarity on what happens after the nrc deadline is essential. india must safeguard the rights of all its people or the human costs will be incalculable. rudabeh shahid is an upcoming postdoctoral fellow at the university of york, champa patel is head of asia-pacific at chatham house and ravi hemadri is executive director, development and justice initiative. tags * the debate * assam * bharatiya janata party (bjp) * bjp * india * national register of citizens * nrc * nrc india * stateless persons covid-19 in asia c australia debates vaccines, worries about new covid-19 strain january 13, 2021 australia debates vaccines, worries about new covid-19 strain jokowi receives first shot as indonesia begins coronavac roll-out january 13, 2021 jokowi receives first shot as indonesia begins coronavac roll-out china’s ambitious covid-19 vaccine targets january 07, 2021 china’s ambitious covid-19 vaccine targets multimedia m elections in kyrgyzstan and kazakhstan: what next? january 14, 2021 elections in kyrgyzstan and kazakhstan: what next? sky high: how the asia-pacific sees space january 13, 2021 sky high: how the asia-pacific sees space dhanushkodi fisherfolk: 50 years of life on the edge january 11, 2021 dhanushkodi fisherfolk: 50 years of life on the edge interview i slow anti-americanism in central asia january 12, 2021 slow anti-americanism in central asia by catherine putz “u.s. power can inadvertently shift politics even in regions like central asia where the united states is remote.” magazine m north korea without nukes: how does it measure up? january 01, 2021 north korea without nukes: how does it measure up? vietnam’s coming leadership change january 01, 2021 vietnam’s coming leadership change the future of us-india digital relations january 01, 2021 the future of us-india digital relations the asia-pacific in 2021: what to expect january 01, 2021 the asia-pacific in 2021: what to expect dri | covid-19 in asia presented by diplomat risk intelligence australia debates vaccines, worries about new covid-19 strain january 13, 2021 australia debates vaccines, worries about new covid-19 strain by joshua mcdonald the emergence of a much more contagious variant of covid-19 comes as australia rolls out vaccines. jokowi receives first shot as indonesia begins coronavac roll-out january 13, 2021 jokowi receives first shot as indonesia begins coronavac roll-out by sebastian strangio the announcement comes as confirmed covid-19 infections continue to spike across the archipelago. china’s ambitious covid-19 vaccine targets january 07, 2021 china’s ambitious covid-19 vaccine targets by eleanor albert with its first homegrown vaccine approved for general use, china aims to vaccinate 50 million people by the lunar new year in february. what is the truth about covid-19 in north korea? january 06, 2021 what is the truth about covid-19 in north korea? by mitch shin north korea insists there have been no coronavirus cases in the country. so why does it keep tightening restrictions, despite the heavy cost? related r (dis)integrating muslims, dismantling india december 30, 2019 (dis)integrating muslims, dismantling india by muqtedar khan india, where muslims have been at home for more than a millennium, is trying its hardest to alienate, disenfranchise, and disintegrate them. the nrc and india’s unfinished partition october 03, 2019 the nrc and india’s unfinished partition by grant wyeth the ongoing ideological struggle over indian nationhood surfaced with assam’s national register of citizens. rss vs rcep: explaining hindu nationalists’ opposition to rcep december 28, 2020 rss vs rcep: explaining hindu nationalists’ opposition to rcep by krzysztof iwanek the wide array of indian groups opposing rcep included the hindu nationalist organization behind the ruling party. how will covid-19 impact the bjp’s electoral chances? may 19, 2020 how will covid-19 impact the bjp’s electoral chances? by aditi dayal the covid-19 pandemic has altered the political dynamics in india -- how much will it matter? features f how biden can navigate a new era in south korean politics january 15, 2021 how biden can navigate a new era in south korean politics by brian kim the future of u.s.-rok relations depends on the united states understanding the priorities of south korea’s now-dominant liberals. india’s invisible women farmers january 14, 2021 india’s invisible women farmers by neeta lal the farmers' protests outside new delhi have cast a spotlight on a traditionally overlooked group: the women who keep india's farms running. can singapore keep its precious hawker culture alive? january 13, 2021 can singapore keep its precious hawker culture alive? by ashley tan singapore’s hawker culture has been recognized by unesco, but there are questions about its sustainability. j-20: the stealth fighter that changed pla watching forever january 11, 2021 j-20: the stealth fighter that changed pla watching forever by rick joe a decade after the j-20's maiden flight, a look back at china's fifth generation stealth fighter – and how it changed pla watching forever. dri | apac risks, analyzed dri elections in kyrgyzstan and kazakhstan: what next? january 14, 2021 elections in kyrgyzstan and kazakhstan: what next? by ankit panda a presidential election in kyrgyzstan and a parliamentary election in kazakhstan kick off 2021 in central asia. china-eu investment deal sparks backlash over rights concerns january 13, 2021 china-eu investment deal sparks backlash over rights concerns by shannon tiezzi civil society organizations and members of the european parliament alike are objecting to the deal amid china's continuing crackdowns in xinjiang and hong kong. the unending saga of india’s retrospective tax debacle january 05, 2021 the unending saga of india’s retrospective tax debacle by abhishek dwivedi india finally has an investor-friendly image after almost a decade and should strive to maintain that. indonesia’s nuclear dream, revived? december 31, 2020 indonesia’s nuclear dream, revived? by sung-mi kim does the joko widodo government have nuclear aspirations? blogs b the makwanpur model: making public healthcare in nepal work january 15, 2021 the makwanpur model: making public healthcare in nepal work by chitij karki and harsh mahaseth administrative decentralization has led to a vast improvement in the delivery of healthcare in nepal. this is one district’s story. biden’s cabinet picks will hold india-us relations in steady course january 15, 2021 biden’s cabinet picks will hold india-us relations in steady course by saba sattar a move away from “america first” stands to help deepen security relations between the two countries. earthquake sets off landslides, flattens homes in indonesia january 15, 2021 earthquake sets off landslides, flattens homes in indonesia by associated press at least 10 people have so far been confirmed dead and more than 200 injured. north korea holds huge military parade as kim vows nuclear might january 15, 2021 north korea holds huge military parade as kim vows nuclear might by associated press the parade, which included a new submarine-launched ballistic missile, closed out the eight-day workers' party congress. regions * central asia * east asia * oceania * south asia * southeast asia topics * diplomacy * economy * environment * opinion * politics * security * society blogs * asean beat * asia defense * asia life * china power * crossroads asia * flashpoints * oceania * pacific money * the debate * the koreas * the pulse * tokyo report * trans-pacific view more * features * interviews * photo essays * podcasts * risk intelligence * videos archives * a new japan * by other means * apac insider * asia scope * china, what's next? * indian decade * james holmes * new emissary * new leaders forum * sport & culture * tech biz * tokyo notes * zachary keck the diplomat * about us * contact us * write for us * partners * advertise * syndicate * privacy policy * newsletters * subscriptions magazinethe asia-pacific in 2021: what to expect? january 2021 the asia-pacific in 2021: what to expect? © 2021 diplomat media inc. all rights reserved. #discover society latest posts discover society latest comments discover society » feed discover society » comments feed discover society » viewpoint: end statelessness or empower the stateless? comments feed alternate on the frontline: photographing stateless people in italy focus: a critical understanding of statelessness alternate alternate discover society measured – factual – critical * home * home * covid-19 chronicles * focus * viewpoint * articles * frontline * policy & politics * contact viewpoint: end statelessness or empower the stateless? __________________________________________________________________ viewpoint: end statelessness or empower the stateless? * by discoversociety * september 05, 2017 * 1 comment * 2017, ds48, viewpoint katja swider the biggest problem with contemporary policies on statelessness, including the unhcr’s campaign to end statelessness by 2024, is the incorrect assumption that nationality is by definition something good, and statelessness is by definition something bad. i argue that a value judgment about nationality or statelessness cannot be made without considering the specific circumstances of each affected individual. ending statelessness and the right to a nationality the policy goal to end statelessness implies that the best way to help the stateless is to end their statelessness. this decision is taken for all stateless persons by international policy makers. such a policy goal does not leave much space for affected individuals to choose whether, when and how to enforce their right to a nationality. in my chapter ‘why end statelessness?’ in the book ‘understanding statelessness’ i explore the relation between the idea of ending statelessness and the concept of human rights. i argue, for example, that the right to a nationality does not fully justify the policy goal to end statelessness. it is important to remember that access to rights is access to choices, and not the forceful imposition of something that has been externally identified as a ‘benefit’. universal implementation of the right to a nationality does not necessitate that everyone actually becomes or remains a national. at a more basic level, the right to a nationality does not give rise to a duty to be(come) a national. furthermore, the right to a nationality does not justify illegalising voluntary statelessness. voluntary statelessness is nowadays either prohibited, or highly discouraged. it is framed by international policy documents as an honest mistake at best, or a sneaky attempt to trick the system at worst.(1) by the way, voluntarily stateless persons, according to international policy documents, are not only those who refuse to be a national of any state out of ideological convictions, but also those who renounce their specific nationality for whatever (political/personal/economic) reasons, even if they wouldn’t in principle mind acquiring another nationality if it was accessible to them. prohibiting voluntary statelessness in a policy that claims to be based on the right to a nationality is an illustration of how human rights discourse can be misleadingly invoked to justify patronising and oppressive policies. three stories that challenge the policy goal to end statelessness to illustrate the practical implications of my theoretical concerns, i discuss three cases and contexts in which the one-size-fits-all solution of ending statelessness negatively influences the human rights situation of affected persons. one case is about a young man in the netherlands whose access to armenian nationality is explicitly made conditional on fulfilling the duty of joining the armenian army and participating in a violent war, risking life, freedom to travel, wellbeing and dignity. this case looks closer at the often-omitted issue of costs of a nationality, alongside with potential rights. nationality may, depending on the relevant state, someone’s life circumstances, age and gender, be an excessive burden. a policy that aims to end statelessness for the sake of human rights should explicitly address scenarios where the acquisition of a nationality does not lead to a better human rights situation. another context is that of latvian non-citizens, a stateless population in latvia that is relatively well-protected, albeit lacking most political rights and some property rights compared to latvian nationals. the complex history of this stateless population is closely linked to latvia’s statehood, and challenges the policy goal to end statelessness in a number of interesting ways. for example, if non-citizens in latvia are not sufficiently motivated to seek latvian citizenship, one approach could be to worsen their conditions to provide more incentive to naturalise. lowering the level of protection of stateless persons may in this case expedite the goal to end statelessness, but would clearly contradict general human rights values. more generally, this case raises the question whether protection of stateless persons should have a limit, so that access to a nationality still holds a human-rights appeal. a human rights based policy should not support the situation where people are blackmailed into becoming or remaining nationals through restricted access to human rights. the third context is that of the dutch system of registering the statelessness status. while the system has a legal category for stateless persons, it implicitly and explicitly discourages registration of cases of statelessness. civil servants are provided misleading instructions on statelessness. for example, government issued documents repeatedly state that statelessness hardly ever occurs in practice, and that state succession cannot lead to statelessness of those who previously possessed the nationality of a predecessor state. while such instructions clearly contradict available studies on the causes and scope of statelessness, they seem to be vaguely inspired by the legal discourse on avoiding and ending statelessness. that is not surprising, as the legal norms on eliminating statelessness are much better internalized in the dutch legal system than norms on the protection of stateless persons. this case illustrates that over-emphasis on avoiding statelessness can lead to policies that avoid acknowledging cases of statelessness. that may be highly problematic for the affected persons. being stateless in the netherlands is often a serious legal and bureaucratic challenge, but being stateless and not having that fact formally recognized creates a whole different level of vulnerability. eradication vs empowerment in other policy areas statelessness is not the only example where ‘eradication’ rhetoric that vaguely invokes human rights has the potential to turn against the very people it claims to help. studies on informal settlements (aka slums) describe disturbing policy implementations of the ‘cities without slums’ slogan. the poorest of the cities were sometimes forcefully evicted from their homes, their access to healthcare and education cut off, and their social networks disrupted.(2) the un-endorsed human-rights inspired slogans, such as ‘cities without slums’, were reported to appear in defense of policies that oppress slum inhabitants.(3) the language of elimination and demonisation of a problem, as opposed to the language of empowerment of the vulnerable, made this international policy discourse on slums susceptible to such gross misinterpretation and misuses. similar problems can be found in literature on informal labour policies. indiscriminate repression of any form of informal labour may be harmful towards the main ‘victims’ of the phenomenon.(4) instead, the focus should lie on empowering workers to increase their scope of choices for better quality employment. one may also think of policies that target prostitution, aids or drug additions. any policy on vulnerability can become oppressive if it focuses on objective goals of disciplining everyone into the mainstream, and if it fails to prioritise the empowerment, agency and representation of affected persons. way forward for statelessness policies how can statelessness policies truly embrace the empowerment of those they aim to help? the answer lies in putting rights first. it is important to ensure everyone can enforce their right to full membership in the community they are part of, as it is important to ensure everyone’s ability to enforce their other human rights. however, nationality should not be framed as a duty in the name of human rights. where nationality still functions as a ‘gateway to human rights’, that is not something to be proud of, or to normalise. human rights are an inherent entitlement of all humans, regardless of nationality status. individuals’ choices as to whether, when and how invoke their human right to a nationality should be treated with respect. for statelessness policies this means that, contrary to current practices, the protection of stateless persons through rights needs to be prioritized over the goal to end statelessness. moreover, (temporary) voluntary statelessness needs to be accepted as a valid exercise of agency over one’s human right to a nationality. references: (1) see, for example, art. 7(1) of the 1961 un convention on the reduction of statelessness, and art. 8(1) of the council of europe convention on nationality. see also unhcr ‘handbook on protection of stateless persons’ (geneva 2014), paras. 21, 158-162. (2) huchzermeyer, m. ‘cities with ‘slums’: from informal settlement eradication to a right to the city in africa’ (uct press, 2011). (3) huchzermeyer, m. “‘slum’ upgrading or ‘slum’ eradication? the mixed message of the mdgs” in langford, m, sumner, a, yamin, a. e. (eds) ‘the millennium development goals and human rights: past, present and future’ (cup 2013), pp. 295-315. (4) maloney, w. f. ‘informality revisited’, world development 32, issue 7 (2004), pp. 1159-1178. katja swider is a doctoral researcher at the university of amsterdam, writing a phd thesis on statelessness under the supervision of prof. leonard besselink (university of amsterdam) and prof. rené de groot (university of maastricht), funded by the netherlands organisation for scientific research. image credit: wikipedia share this: * email * twitter * facebook * tumblr * more * * reddit * linkedin * * pinterest * pocket * * 1 comment responses click here to cancel reply. < comment: ____________________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________ name: ____________________ e-mail: ____________________ website: ____________________ [ ] save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time i comment. [ ] notify me of follow-up comments by email. [ ] notify me of new posts by email. send rapid response * the farmers’ protests in india and academic freedom: connecting the dots between farming and education * farmers’ protests in india as a counter hegemonic social force rapid response covid19 * rapid response covid-19 covid-19 – click for more * some hope for migrants and refugees in the time of covid-19? * racism as a social determinant: covid-19 and its impacts on racial/ethnic minorities * all for vaccination? vaccination for all? * from soldiers to scapegoats: why blaming citizens in the pandemic may help extremist parties * did behavioural science cost lives? evidence-based policymaking during the pandemic become a friend of discover society help support discover society paypal - the safer, easier way to pay online ____________________ submit sign up to receive a monthly newsletter with the latest issue of discover society [newsletter-528456_640.jpg] discover bristol university press [oakley-ad-jul-19.jpg] most popular posts of the day * please can we stop talking about ‘mixed-race’ identity (on its own)? * why covid-19 is a social issue * post covid-19 times: a reflection * is anti-irish racism still a problem? you can bank on it * women’s studies, gender studies and feminism * subscribe to our rss feed * follow us on twitter * like us on facebook the opinions expressed in the items published here are those of the authors and not discover society. * about us * editorial board * author index * topic index * archive * contribute * contact us * donate copyright © 2021. madidus theme by creativekingdom & different themes send to email address ____________________ your name ____________________ your email address ____________________ _________________________ loading send email cancel post was not sent - check your email addresses! email check failed, please try again sorry, your blog cannot share posts by email. #publisher moneycontrol.com news 172@29@17@144!~!172@29@0@53!~!|news|trends|features-2|-1956829.html!~!n ews|moneycontrol|com!~!|controller|infinite_scroll_article.php!~!is_mob ile=false moneycontrol * home * markets * news * portfolio * mutual funds * personal finance * forum * media * subscription * personal tech * auto * like a boss * opinion * webinar * mf forum * research * startups * business * markets * economy * stocks * india * world * companies * personal tech * trends * personal finance * home * indian indices * stock action * all stats * top gainers * top losers * only buyers * only sellers * 52 week high * 52 week low * price shockers * volume shockers * most active stocks * global markets * market action * dashboard * f&o * fii & dii activity * corporate action * earnings * currency * commodity * ipo * research * pre-market * advice * broker research * technicals * webinar^ * interview series^ * others * bonds * cryptocurrency * tools * homepage * business * home * economy * companies * mutual funds * personal finance * ipo * startups * real estate * geography * india * world * markets * home * stocks * technical analysis * equity research * commodity * currency * special * trends * latest news * opinion * technology * personal tech * auto * fintech * media * podcast * slideshows * infographics * videos * others * politics * cricket * entertainment * travel * lifestyle * health and fitness * education * science * books * top gainers * top losers * active by value * active by volume * commodities @moneycontrol * explore * home * find fund * top ranked funds * performance tracker * sip performance tracker * etf performance * nfo * top performing categories * learn * tools * returns calculator * risk analyzer * asset allocator * sip return * mf forum * track * your mf investment * mf prices * explore * home * investing * insurance * banking * financial planning * property * tools * video * ask expert * explainer * tax filing * nps * fixed deposit * fixed deposit interest calculator * corporate deposits * tax * tax-filing guide^ * income tax calculator * emergency fund calculator * loans & credit cards * home * car loan calculator * home loan calculator * education loan calculator * credit card debit payoff calculator * tools * provident fund calculator * assets allocation planning * debt reduction planner * debt evaluation calculator * current expense calculator * explore forum * homepage * membership rules * forum topics * ask the expert * top boarders * user profile * forum topics * latest threads * stocks * index * gold * personal finance * just posted * mf forum * polls * latest polls * historical polls * market sentiments * support * faqs * code of conduct * feedback * write to us * videos * homepage * videos on demand * coffee can investing * ideas for profit * commodities@moneycontrol * in focus with udayan mukherjee * 3 point analysis * technical views * reporter`s take * explained * political bazaar * editor`s take * millenial pulse * modi government report card * podcast * homepage * podcast on demand * the market podcast * future wise * simply save * stock picks of the day * coronavirus essential * live tv * hindi * gujarati * gamechangers * ambareesh baliga * ck narayan * prashant shah * sudarshan sukhani * t gnanasekar * mecklai financials * shubham agarwal * market smith india * swing trader india * moneycontrol pro * stock reports by thomson reuters * power your trade * investment watch market news * farmers' protest live updates | rahul gandhi leads congress' protest in support of agitating farmers farmers' protest live updates | rahul gandhi leads congress' protest in support of agitating farmers * coronavirus live updates coronavirus live updates * union ministers start ninth round of talks with protesting farmer unions union ministers start ninth round of talks with protesting farmer unions * delhi hc hears petition against whatsapp's updated privacy policy delhi hc hears petition against whatsapp's updated privacy policy view more news english * hindi * gujarati specials * life insurance made simple * hitachi social innovation * sustainability 100+ * life goals masterclass * sap * malkansview * commodity ki paathshala * webinar presented by knowlarity & freshworks * intel - jio * nse * commodity ki paathshala * webinar by tata aia life insurance * bandhan bank * small business virtual summit * fis * lenovo smarter india * https://www.moneycontrol.com/msite/microsite-url-amex-india-cfo-hom epage * indiainconthemove * virtual summit * trade banknifty in just 15 mins a day ____________________search quotes, news, mutual fund navs * trending stocks * vodafone idea ine669e01016, idea, 532822 * tata motors ine155a01022, tatamotors, 500570 * yes bank ine528g01035, yesbank, 532648 * infosys ine009a01021, infy, 500209 * reliance ine002a01018, reliance, 500325 * quotes * mutual funds * commodities * futures & options * news * forum * notices * videos * glossary * all * hello, login hello, login log-inor sign-up my account + my profile + my portfolio + my watchlist + my messages + my alerts + my profile + my portfolio + my watchlist + my messages + my alerts + logout + feedback + download app + follow us on: network 18 -> moneycontrol be a propro * * coronavirus * markets + o home o indian indices o stock action o all stats o top gainers o top losers o only buyers o only sellers o 52 week high o 52 week low o price shockers o volume shockers o most active stocks + o global markets o market action o dashboard o f&o o fii & dii activity o corporate action o earnings o currency o commodity + o ipo o research o pre-market o advice o broker research o technicals o webinar^ o interview series^ + o others o bonds o cryptocurrency o tools * news + o homepage o business o home o economy o companies o mutual funds o personal finance o ipo o startups o real estate + o geography o india o world o markets o home o stocks o technical analysis o equity research o commodity o currency + o special o trends o latest news o opinion o technology o personal tech o auto o fintech o media o podcast o slideshows o infographics o videos + o others o politics o cricket o entertainment o travel o lifestyle o health and fitness o education o science o books * portfolio * commodities * mutual funds + o explore o home o find fund o top ranked funds o performance tracker o sip performance tracker o etf performance o nfo o top performing categories o learn + o tools o returns calculator o risk analyzer o asset allocator o sip return + o mf forum o track o your mf investment o mf prices * personal finance + o explore o home o investing o insurance o banking o financial planning o property o tools o video o ask expert o explainer o tax filing o nps + o fixed deposit o fixed deposit interest calculator o corporate deposits o tax o tax-filing guide^ o income tax calculator o emergency fund calculator o loans & credit cards o home o car loan calculator o home loan calculator o education loan calculator o credit card debit payoff calculator + o tools o provident fund calculator o assets allocation planning o debt reduction planner o debt evaluation calculator o current expense calculator all schedule | previous transcript * forum + o explore forum o homepage o membership rules o forum topics o ask the expert o top boarders o user profile + o forum topics o latest threads o stocks o index o gold o personal finance o just posted o mf forum + o polls o latest polls o historical polls o market sentiments o support o faqs o code of conduct o feedback o write to us * media + o videos o homepage o videos on demand o coffee can investing o ideas for profit o commodities@moneycontrol o in focus with udayan mukherjee o 3 point analysis o technical views o reporter`s take o explained o political bazaar o editor`s take o millenial pulse o modi government report card + o podcast o homepage o podcast on demand o the market podcast o future wise o simply save o stock picks of the day o coronavirus essential + o live tv o hindi o gujarati * earth360 * subscription gamechangers + ambareesh baliga fundamental, stock ideas, multibaggers & insights subscribe + ck narayan stock & index f&o trading calls & market analysis subscribe + prashant shah positional and intraday trading calls basis noiseless chart subscribe + sudarshan sukhani technical call, trading calls & insights subscribe + t gnanasekar commodity trading calls & market analysis subscribe + mecklai financials currency derivatives trading calls & insights subscribe + shubham agarwal options trading advice and market analysis subscribe + market smith india model portfolios, investment ideas, guru screens and much more subscribe + swing trader india proprietary system driven rule based trading calls subscribe moneycontrol pro + curated markets data, exclusive trading recommendations, independent equity analysis & actionable investment ideas subscribe + stock reports by thomson reuters details stock report and investment recommendation subscribe + power your trade technical and commodity calls subscribe + investment watch set price, volume and news alerts subscribe * be a pro * business * markets * stocks * economy * companies * trends * ipo * opinion moneycontrol ____________________search quotes, news, mutual fund navs * trending stocks * vodafone idea ine669e01016, idea, 532822 * tata motors ine155a01022, tatamotors, 500570 * yes bank ine528g01035, yesbank, 532648 * infosys ine009a01021, infy, 500209 * reliance ine002a01018, reliance, 500325 * quotes * mutual funds * commodities * futures & options * news * forum * notices * videos * glossary * all * auriferous aqua farma , 519363 view all * user profile login * sign-up * english + हिंदी + ગુજરાતી * mc login user name mc login user name + my profile + my portfolio + my watchlist + my messages + logout * english + हिंदी + ગુજરાતી * home * coronavirus * interview series^ interview series * tax-filing guide^ tax-filing guide * markets + home fii & dii activity + corporate action dashboard + earnings webinar * global markets * indian indices * news + home coronavirus + technology auto + research opinion + politics startup + personal finance * mc minis^ mc minis * portfolio * watchlist * personal finance * mutual funds + home performance tracker + top ranked funds my portfolio + top performing categories forum * commodities * currencies * forum * media + live tv & shows video ^video + podcast ^podcast stock premier league * earth360 * subscriptions * specials + sustainability 100+ malkansview webinar + smart finance commodity ki paathshala + webinar by tata aia life insurance webinar presented by knowlarity & freshworks + life goals masterclass hitachi social innovation + india cfo summit life insurance made simple + master your money sme special + real assets tax saving fy19 * be a pro * get app webinar :join us on jan 21, 22 and 23, 2021 at the anybody can trade 360° live virtual event. register now! you are here: homenewstrendsfeatures stateless and super-rich as most people continue to batten down the financial hatches, an elite group of the world's "stateless super-rich" is blossoming, and transcending geographical boundaries to purchase properties in major cities across the globe may 03, 2012 / 01:44 pm ist * * * * * * * * * * * * as most people continue to batten down the financial hatches, an elite group of the world's "stateless super-rich" is blossoming, and transcending geographical boundaries to purchase properties in major cities across the globe. with no strong ties to specific countries, these individuals lead nomadic, season-driven lives. their choice of where to live at any one time is based on that location's climate, their children's education, tax constraints or which of their friends they want to lunch with on any particular day. "the more money you have, the more rootless you become because everything is possible," says jeremy davidson, a property consultant who specialises in properties that cost 10m pound or more in the most sought-after postcodes in london. "i have clients who wake up in the morning and say, 'let's go to venice for lunch.' if you've got that sort of money the world becomes a very small place. they tend to have a diminished sense of place, of where their roots are," he says. this increasingly global lifestyle has led to the stateless super-rich buying a larger portion of the world's most expensive homes as they look to park their wealth in perceived havens. on average they own four to five properties, usually consisting of two in their country of principal residence, one in a "global city" such as london, paris or new york, and a holiday home in a hot climate - or one in the alps. exclusive research for the financial times by knight frank shows that foreign buyers now dominate sales of "super-prime" homes - typically defined as the top 5% of the most valuable properties - in the world's major cities. "i am not surprised that these top-end markets are so international in terms of their buyers, the reality is the super-rich who buy these properties live increasingly global lifestyles," says liam bailey, head of research at knight frank. "the super-prime market wouldn't exist without a global market - it only really got going in the past 15 to 20 years as russian money poured into london and monaco." this has led to many countries' super-prime property markets being increasingly dominated by international buyers, turning some cities into playgrounds for the wealthy. the international rich have long-favoured monaco - confirmed by figures showing 100% of its super-prime property is sold to international buyers - but this demographic now buys as much as 95% of the expensive homes in paris, and 85% in london. while these individuals have seen their property investments pay off as high-end housing markets around the world have soared on the back of this strong demand in recent years, it has also resulted in a number of knock-on social consequences for the domestic populations of these emerging global cities. david adam of global cities, a consultancy that works to improve cities' success in international markets, acknowledges that the globalisation of cities can have an impact on their resources. "cosmopolitanism begins in cities but the challenge for many places will be to ensure that national citizenship enjoys the benefits of this international experience and the local economies are not left behind," he says. the most obvious impact in many global cities has been to change the visual order of these cities, especially in well-to-do and desirable areas. saskia sassen, a us sociologist at new york's columbia university and author of cities in a world economy (sage), says this often comes with a change in the scale and appearance of homes. "even very good architects manage to generate a style that is not usually much admired by engaged residents and passersby, whether the poor aficionado urban historian, old wealth, or anti-gentrification activists," says sassen. another social impact, perhaps more difficult to measure, is the dilution of what is referred to as the "civic" quality of an area, explains sassen. "it can feel less like a neighbourhood and more like a corporate district in the low density of street life," she says. the problem is that these super-prime areas have a high proportion of second, third, or fourth homes that are left vacant for periods of the year as their owners move from one exclusive destination to another. these individuals will spend a few months in st moritz, before moving to their trophy mansion in london, and then on to their luxury villa in sardinia for the summer months. critics argue that these buyers aggravate the housing shortages prevalent in these cities while spending less in the local economy than permanent residents. sassen says in some extreme cases poorer local residents can start to develop a sense of distance from their city. "in my research i found that in several cities across the world, locals - often high-income and old rich locals - did not mince their words when saying that all of this was a loss to their neighbourhood and city," sassen says. "this was especially the case in places where the impacts of this rebuilding of vast stretches of their cities were the most negative, for instance, raising local prices, pricing out locals and not paying taxes on income or on the neighbourhoods' or cities' real estate." the gentrification of areas tends to drive out services for the local people who need them, explains rohit talwar, chief executive at fast future, a research company that analyses future trends. "councils argue that they are justified in getting rid of services such as post offices and pubs because the people who would have needed them have sold up and moved away." there is also a lack of integration between the incoming stateless super-rich and the communities into which they are buying. "some foreign nationals will come to london or new york because other wealthy individuals from overseas are buying there, but they are not interested in getting to know the local community in those cities. they also tend to bring their own domestic staff with them," says talwar. davidson agrees. "the super-rich will often lead their lives quite in isolation. they are not going to be greeting fellow parents at the school gate as they don't do the school run as the kids will be dropped off by a chauffeur in a bullet-proof range rover." the combination of these issues, along with a move towards protectionism by governments, has meant a backlash in some global cities is emerging against foreign ownership. even those that define themselves as "global cities" are becoming increasingly intolerant of super-rich incomers. in hong kong, there are growing grumbles from the indigenous cantonese about the influx of mainland chinese buyers. "the flow of new wealth from these countries is arriving in austerity-soaked uk, us and france," says bailey. "there is a reaction politically in the recipient countries - note mansion tax arguments in the uk, new ban on second homes in switzerland and arguments over tax rates for 'the 1%' in the us." some countries have gone even further to curb the influx. singapore has introduced a 10% additional buyer's stamp duty to all foreign purchases in singapore, while in march the swiss public supported a referendum for a 20% limit of second homes. this was largely aimed at countering "cold beds" - second homes in resorts occupied in peak periods but empty otherwise - and providing affordable housing for locals. china has introduced a raft of measures including property taxes and credit quota limits. dr yang liang chua, head of research for south-east asia at jones lang lasalle, says the concern over the potential destabilising impact of money coming from wealthy buyers from the us and europe has been one of the triggers for singapore's preemptive measures. commentators say it is hard to know what further impact this dominance of the international rich will have in the coming years, but many believe some cities have already lost the strong "community feel" and public-spiritedness they once had as more and more properties are owned by people with multiple homes worldwide. tanya powley is the ft's mortgage and property reporter; lucy warwick-ching is the ft's online money editor tags: #features #stateless and super-rich first published: apr 28, 2012 01:30 pm watch * explained | why is walmart entering the fintech space and what it means for the retail giant explained | why is walmart entering the fintech space and what it means for the retail giant watch more * ideas for profit | why wipro has the potential to outperform peers ideas for profit | why wipro has the potential to outperform peers watch more * power finance corporation's rs 5,000 crore bond issue for individual buyers opens on friday; more to follow power finance corporation's rs 5,000 crore bond issue for individual buyers opens on friday; more to follow watch more * sc stays farm laws | concerns, impact and benefits explained sc stays farm laws | concerns, impact and benefits explained watch more must listen macro minutes | budget 2021: hsbc chief economist pranjul bhandari pins hopes on higher tax buoyancy, privatization in fy22 macro minutes | budget 2021: hsbc chief economist pranjul bhandari pins hopes on higher tax buoyancy, privatization in fy22 stay updated subscribe to our daily newsletter ____________________ (submit) submit get daily news on your browser (submit) enable trending news coronavirus live updates: telangana logs 202 fresh covid-19 cases; tally rises above 2.91 lakh coronavirus live updates: telangana logs 202 fresh covid-19 cases; tally rises above 2.91 lakh * india took 'very decisive' steps to deal with coronavirus pandemic and its economic consequences: imf chief * covid exposed indian banks to increased risks in digital transactions, uday kotak * schools set to reopen in delhi, covid-19 safety norms to keep in place * covid-19 india vaccine news today: no vaccination for pregnant, lactating women at this time, says health ministry * stateless and super-rich stateless and super-rich * stateless and super-rich a leadership skill that i saw in a thief * stateless and super-rich the biggest lesson in acting is listening, says rejctx actor anisha... * stateless and super-rich 10 completely off-limits places on earth * home * business * markets * stocks * economy * research * mutual funds * personal finance * ipo * politics * india * world * technology * startups * auto footer menu 172@29@17@144!~!172@29@0@53!~!|news|trends|features-2|-1956829.html!~!n ews|moneycontrol|com!~!|controller|infinite_scroll_article.php!~!is_mob ile=false forum facebook twitter instagram linkedin rss * portfolio * markets * watchlist * live tv show * currencies * commodities * fixed income * personal finance * mutual fund * stock market india * ipo * global market * budget 2020 * bse sensex * forum news * business * markets * stocks * economy * mutual funds * personal finance * ipo * startups stocks: a | b | c | d | e | f | g | h | i | j | k | l | m | n | o | p | q | r | s | t | u | v | w | x | y | z | others mutual funds: a | b | c | d | e | f | g | h | i | j | k | l | m | n | o | p | q | r | s | t | u | v | w | x | y | z visit the app store to see all our apps: download from google playdownload from app storedownload from windows phone tools * retirement planning * emi calculator * sip calculator * sip planner useful links * live sensex * public sector banks * best portfolio manager * small savings schemes * bonds * topperlearning * firstpost * news18 * in.com * clear study doubts * education franchisee opportunity * pr post ^ * coronavirus ^ specials * master your money * game changers * travelcafe * investment watch * poweryourtrade * moneybhai focus * ge step ahead * sme step up network 18 sites * news18 * firstpost * cnbc tv18 * in.com * cricketnext * overdrive * topper learning about us | contact us | support | disclaimer | privacy policy | cookie policy | terms & conditions | careers | financial terms (glossary) | faqs | sitemap | rss feed copyright © e-eighteen.com ltd. all rights reserved. reproduction of news articles, photos, videos or any other content in whole or in part in any form or medium without express writtern permission of moneycontrol.com is prohibited. * home * markets * news * portfolio sections * » home * » forum * » ipo * » markets * » mutual funds * » budget 2020 * » coronavirus * » commodities * » real asset * » news * » currencies * » portfolio * » fixed income * » watchlist * » property * » stock list * » mf list * » glossary * » sitemap * » live tv & shows * » personal finance * » poweryourtrade desktop version » follow us on facebook twitter instagram teglegram available on download from google playdownload from app stoerdownload from windows phone disclaimer | terms & conditions | privacy policy | cookie policy | faqs | sitemap | feedback network 18 sites: news18 | firstpost | cnbc tv18 | in.com | cricketnext | overdrive |topper learning copyright © e-eighteen.com ltd all rights resderved. reproduction of news articles, photos, videos or any other content in whole or in part in any form or medium without express writtern permission of moneycontrol.com is prohibited. webtech_news18 skip to main content iframe: https://www.googletagmanager.com/ns.html?id=gtm-w5d7zp help us continue to fight human rights abuses. please give now to support our work human rights watch (button) * العربية * 简中 * 繁中 * english * français * deutsch * 日本語 * русский * português * español * more search _______________ (search) donate now search _______________ (search) * countries * topics * reports * videos & photos * impact * take action * about * join us * give now * العربية * 简中 * 繁中 * english * français * deutsch * 日本語 * русский * português * español * more human rights watch (button) print search _______________ (search) donate now november 29, 2016 5:50am est available in * english * français * español haiti: stateless people trapped in poverty victims of dominican republic’s arbitrary deportations a pregnant woman rests on the floor while attending a sunday mass on the outskirts of anse-a-pitres, haiti click to expand image a pregnant woman rests on the floor while attending a sunday mass at a camp for haitians and dominicans of haitian descent returning or deported from the dominican republic on the outskirts of anse-a-pitres, haiti, september 6, 2015. © 2015 reuters (new york) – pregnant women and young children, many stripped of their dominican citizenship before being pushed across the border into haiti, are living in deplorable conditions, human rights watch said today. they are among thousands of dominicans of haitian descent who, since mid-2015, have been forced to leave the country of their birth, including through abusive summary deportations by the dominican government. “not only have many been deprived of their right to nationality, they are not getting the assistance they so desperately need,” said skye wheeler, women’s rights emergencies researcher at human rights watch. “neither the haitian nor the dominican government is helping some of the most vulnerable undocumented people.” as of november 3, 2016, almost 150,000 haitian migrants and dominicans of haitian descent have entered haiti since mid-2015, according to the international organization for migration. after a court ruling in 2013 that retroactively stripped tens of thousands of people of dominican citizenship, the government paused deportations while it worked to mitigate that ruling’s impact and register people with irregular migration status. those registration efforts were badly flawed, but the dominican government resumed deportations to haiti in july 2015. although some deportees were migrants without valid claims to stay in the dominican republic, others were dominicans of haitian descent, including some who were summarily deported and others who left in the belief that their deportation was inevitable, regardless of the strength of their claims to dominican citizenship. not only have many been deprived of their right to nationality, they are not getting the assistance they so desperately need. neither the haitian nor the dominican government is helping some of the most vulnerable undocumented people. skye wheeler women’s rights emergencies researcher no government or agency has tracked where most of these people have settled in haiti. however, at least 3,000 of the poorest have lived in camps near the southern haitian town of anse-à-pitres where many still live, struggling to find enough to eat. people live there in makeshift shelters of cardboard and stitched-together clothing. although hurricane matthew hit other areas of haiti harder, the flimsy shelters of the camps could not withstand the flooding from the october 4, 2016, storm. nongovernmental groups have called access to water and sanitation in the camps “deplorable.” local government officials told human rights watch they have not received any extra funds from the central government to support the camp residents. human rights watch visited the anse-à-pitres camps in september to research availability of reproductive health care, as it has done in other camp settings in haiti. human rights watch interviewed 18 women and girls who were pregnant or had recently given birth and found that many could not afford or otherwise access basic care. human rights watch also interviewed local aid workers, local government officials, medical officials, and representatives of nongovernmental groups. in 2015, human rights watch found that the dominican government’s efforts to ameliorate the 2013 court ruling, while helpful in principle, were flawed in practice. undocumented dominicans of haitian descent now in haiti, including many children, whose nationality was taken away, have no clear, accessible path to establish their lawful claims to dominican citizenship, leaving many stateless in violation of their right to nationality. the haitian government, including the new administration following the november 20 elections, should address the problem and make clear the options for these stateless people to stay in haiti and get haitian citizenship and whether they can still protect their claims to dominican nationality, as well as the haitian government’s commitment to work to facilitate either choice the arrival of thousands of people in anse-à-pitres increased demand for scarce resources in a region that was already short of food. the haitian government and international donors should find ways to respond to these increased needs, including by supporting the increased availability of reproductive health care for women, which is harder to find in the town and surrounding areas compared to other parts of haiti. women interviewed said they had to bribe or beg dominican guards to allow them to cross the border into the dominican republic for essential care, such as caesarean sections and sonographies that are not available in the haitian town. and none were sleeping under a mosquito net, despite widespread malaria, which is especially dangerous to pregnant women, and now the zika virus, which can impair fetal development. “women forced out of the dominican republic repeatedly said that they had had better access to maternal care back home,” wheeler said. “almost all living in the camps also said that they were constantly hungry, especially when pregnant.” six of the women human rights watch interviewed had been deported by dominican officials, apparently arbitrarily. they said that uniformed officials they thought were immigration officers did not make even cursory attempts to determine whether they should be deported, aside from checking whether they had national identity or work documents, and some were not even asked their names. all had been separated from some of their children for days or weeks after they crossed the border and had no legal recourse or opportunity to challenge the deportations before a judge. the haitian government, and the office of the un high commissioner for refugees (unhcr), which has a statelessness mandate as well as a refugee one, should establish a helpline or accessible information desks for people looking for assistance with their nationality. the haitian government should work with the dominican government to normalize migration between the two countries. haitians also need reliable access to haitian identity documents. the dominican government should immediately restore the full nationality of all those affected by the 2013 ruling, find a way to ensure all children born in the country before january 26, 2010, have access to civil registries, and issue corresponding documents to ensure they are protected from arbitrary expulsion to haiti. the dominican government should also actively find and recognize as dominican the denationalized citizens in haiti, allow them to promptly move back to the dominican republic, and issue corresponding documents. any obstacles preventing birth registration by dominican parents of haitian heritage should be lifted. the dominican republic should immediately end arbitrary deportations, and ensure that all lawful deportations are carried out in a manner that respects the rights of those concerned. deportations should be assessed on an individual basis, and anyone deported should be provided with a copy of the deportation order and the opportunity to challenge it before an independent court of law that can suspend it. deportations should do no harm to family unity. human rights watch also found that the international organization for migration and unhcr, both of which have important mandates to assist people in this situation, reduced their monitoring of the population movement across the border in mid-2016, including abusive deportations, at least in part because of funding shortages. in september, unhcr had only been able to help return five dominicans to the dominican republic out of what it believes to be thousands with legitimate claims, again in part because of funding shortfalls. “the arbitrary removal of citizenship of thousands of dominicans has led to unnecessary suffering and yet no effective steps are being taken to try and rectify the situation,” wheeler said. deportation and statelessness in 2013, a dominican court stripped tens of thousands of children of undocumented haitian workers in the dominican republic of their dominican citizenship, based on a retroactive reinterpretation of the country’s nationality law. the changes were widely condemned and called discriminatory and an “arbitrary deprivation of nationality” by the inter-american commission on human rights. unhcr expressed concern about the statelessness created by the decision. in 2014, the dominican government passed a law intended to ameliorate the impact of that decision by allowing those affected to secure their citizenship rights. however, a 2015 report by human rights watch found that efforts by the dominican government to carry out that law were badly flawed, leaving tens of thousands of dominicans stripped of their nationality. government agencies refused to restore full citizenship to many people who had already been registered with the government as citizens before the ruling. the 2014 law created a registration process for these dominicans who had never registered, or who had never been registered when babies, but tens of thousands were blocked by too-short deadlines and often unworkable bureaucratic obstacles. officials and police heavily profiled people of haitian descent, and deported many summarily. the dominican government admitted that over 44,000 dominicans had been unable to register, and nongovernmental groups believe the number may be higher. some of the women human rights watch interviewed in haiti said they had been unable to navigate the registration process and were summarily deported or felt that they had no choice but to leave the country. c.p., 29, was born in the dominican republic. she did not register under the 2014 process, she said, because: “all i saw were people like me being maltreated, so i didn’t try to register.” dominican officers wearing a uniform she did not recognize deported her in mid-2015. she said that she was not given any opportunity to appeal and was deported the same day. no one took her name or gave her any paperwork during the deportation. “i didn’t have any clothes except what i was wearing, or anything for the baby,” she said. n.b., 37, was also born in the dominican republic. she said that her half-sister tried to help her register. “it was hopeless,” she said. “the officers asked a lot of questions, said we had to find the midwife who cut my umbilical cord, or get someone well-known in the village to come and vouch that i was born there.” she was deported in mid-2015 by men she described as being “from immigration.” she said that she was not provided with any paperwork, and was deported the same day, without any opportunity to appeal. “they just asked: ‘do you have papers?’ and when i said ‘no’, they said, ‘get in the truck.’” other women said they were unable to register their children because they themselves lacked identification documents. many did not understand the registration process or assumed they couldn’t afford to register. women also faced problems in registering their dominican-born children because they did not have birth certificates for them. this is consistent with what human rights watch found in 2015, when researchers identified 59 people who were unable to register the births of their children because the parents had documentation problems or because officials refused. g.j., 38, lived in the dominican republic for 22 years as a plantation worker. all of her nine children were born there, the first when she was 15. but none of her children have dominican birth certificates. “there was no way to register their births as we did not have papers,” she said. since she was deported in 2015 g.j. has obtained haitian birth certificates for her children so they can attend school. the birth certificates incorrectly state that the children were born in haiti. she had to sneak back into the dominican republic to pick up five of her children who had remained there when she was deported, and bring them to a camp at anse-à-pitres. in anse-à-pitres anyone who has haitian parents can get a birth certificate from a local registrar. in part because children need to have a birth certificate to register for school, many parents have sought this documentation even if their child has a claim to dominican nationality. others have managed to get haitian birth certificates for children that list the dominican republic as the place of birth. it’s not clear whether these children may face administrative hurdles later in life, or even statelessness, if they try to get a haitian national id when they reach 18. haitian law banned dual citizenship until 2012, when a law was passed to allow it. however, it is unclear whether children born before the law was passed can have dual nationalities, or can claim haitian nationality if they are in fact dominican. i.n, 27, had lived in the dominican republic since she was 12. she had four children, all born in the dominican republic, but none of their births were registered there. “my children’s father was a dominican man,” she said. “but it was too complex to get them registered as it would have had to be him to do it, and he already had a wife and other children and was unwilling.” i.n. left in mid-2015, fearing deportation. i.n.’s children, some whom live in haiti and some with her relatives in the dominican republic, still lack any papers to establish their citizenship. of the six women who said they had been summarily deported, five said that they were deported while holding their babies. all six were separated from at least some of their children during the deportation process, in one case for about two weeks. a.a., 30, was born in haiti but had been living in the dominican republic for 21 years without registering as a migrant. she said that men she thought were immigration agents took her by truck with her baby to somewhere near the ajimani border point, then ordered her to get out of the truck and walk across the border. “it was hard,” she said. “the baby was crying, we were hungry and i did not even know really where they had taken us.” a lack of national documentation is not only a problem for people who have been living in the dominican republic. between one million and two million haitians may be undocumented, according to the unhcr. independent border monitors, funded by the international organization for migration, have documented 149,493 people crossing the border into haiti since deportations re-started in mid-2015. of these, 32,211 had been officially deported by dominican officials, 25,819 more told monitors they had been unofficially deported, and more than 91,000 people were registered as having left the dominican republic “spontaneously.” more than 67 percent of those who answered the international organization for migration’s questionnaire did not have any national identity papers at all, neither haitian nor from the dominican republic. children, including those who were born in the dominican republic before 2010, had to be smuggled over the border to join their mothers in haiti. they are now stateless or have instead acquired haitian birth certificates. access to reproductive health care in anse-à-pitres all 18 of the women human rights watch interviewed said that they had worse access to reproductive health care in haiti than if they had not left the dominican republic. anse-à-pitres is in a particularly under-resourced region of haiti. the largest clinic in the area, serving about 32,000 people, has only two full-time doctors, neither a specialist. because of a lack of staffing, equipment, and medicines, it is unable to perform surgery. it has a new maternity ward, constructed by an international organization, but cannot use it because of a lack of staff. medical officials and aid workers in the area said they believe that most women in the area give birth at home. haitian department of health services data from 2012 ranks the southeast department, the region where anse-à-pitres is located, as having one of the highest percentages of at-home births in the country. the closest place in haiti to get a caesarian section is roughly seven hours away. many women with labor complications beg or bribe their way across the nearby border to dominican towns where they can receive care. several of these women, as well as local women rights activists, described this as “humiliating.” women said they also bribe officials to allow them to cross the border for better prenatal care, including sonograms, not available in anse-à-pitres. a nurse with counseling skills who had been stationed in anse-à-pitres and left in 2013, said no mental health services are available, including for rape victims, although emergency contraception and post-exposure prophylaxis against hiv transmission are available. the anse-à-pitres clinic provides free family planning but several of the women and girls said they did not know they could get contraception there. seeing a doctor is inexpensive (about 25 haitian gourdes/us$0.38), but many of the camp residents interviewed said that they could not afford medicine, and so did not visit the doctor, even when unwell, or have checkups during their pregnancy. the haitian government does not provide free drugs. instead, clinics buy them and then sell them to patients. the united nations population fund (unfpa) used to provide obstetric medicines and other forms of assistance but has not done so since 2014, a medical official at the clinic said. he said that the clinic has severe shortages of drugs, including of basic antibiotics, and has not received significant government or other support since mid-2015. all the women interviewed said that they often experienced severe hunger during their pregnancies, sometimes eating only once a day or every two days. no systematic food aid is provided to the camp residents, including to babies, and there is no maternal feeding program. none of the women could afford vitamins to take during their pregnancy. the international organization for migration provided about 580 families living in these camps with rent and cash support for a year in april 2016, in an effort to clear the camps. women who received the assistance said that their families’ lives had improved since they relocated. other families have returned to the camps, or were never registered for the assistance and are not able now to get any support. aid organizations and government agencies stopped providing even intermittent aid to the camps in may, and it does not appear that any new plans to provide aid are on the horizon. “i went to dominican republic for a sonogram, because there’s none here,” said c.m., 25. “i had to pay 500 pesos for that and i also had to pay a bribe to cross the border because i have no papers. i know that you had to pay to get papers to stay in the dominican republic and i had no money. no one explained anything to me, how i was someone [who would have to register to begin the process of nationalization]. it’s common in this camp to have to have sex for food or money, i’ve done it many times, but most often with my current partner.” she said she was born in the dominican republic but did not register as she did not understand the process or have any documents, and was three months pregnant when she moved into the camp in mid-2015. “i had complications,” said n.a., 24. “i went to the clinic in anse-à-pitres but they could not help me so i had to bribe 500 pesos to get across the border. and then i had to go on to baharona because they could not help me in pedernales and so that was another 4,000 pesos. i am really worried because i borrowed all this money and i have still not paid it back. i have a partner here but it is just an economic thing.” she was born in haiti, and deported from the dominican republic when pregnant in mid-2015, after living there for two years. she has been in the camp since june 2015 and is now pregnant again. your tax deductible gift can help stop human rights violations and save lives around the world. (*) $50 ( ) $100 ( ) $250 ( ) $500 ( ) $1000 ( ) other ____________________ (donate) donate now region / country * americas , * haiti topic * children's rights , * women's rights , * reproductive rights and abortion more reading * january 12, 2021 statement submission to the committee on economic, social and cultural rights for panama * december 9, 2020 news release ecuador: high levels of sexual violence in schools evelyn yucailla, 23, a survivor of school-related sexual violence and activist, holds a local newspaper from the city of ambato, ecuador. the frontpage headline reads: “young teacher is guilty.” reports * january 6, 2021 report “like i’m drowning” children and families sent to harm by the us ‘remain in mexico’ program a woman holds a child in front of a group of tents * december 9, 2020 report “it’s a constant fight” school-related sexual violence and young survivors’ struggle for justice in ecuador jennifer real, a survivor of sexual violence. ecuador more reading * january 12, 2021 statement submission to the committee on economic, social and cultural rights for panama * december 9, 2020 news release ecuador: high levels of sexual violence in schools evelyn yucailla, 23, a survivor of school-related sexual violence and activist, holds a local newspaper from the city of ambato, ecuador. the frontpage headline reads: “young teacher is guilty.” most viewed 1. january 8, 2021 dispatches trump administration again weakens lgbt protections the picture shows the emblem of the united states department of health and human services. 2. january 13, 2021 commentary brazil: institutions stand up to bolsonaro presidente jair messias bolsonaro 3. january 13, 2021 news release pakistan: worsening crackdown on dissent members of civil society groups take part in a rally to condemn a recent gang rape of a woman on a highway, karachi, pakistan, september 12, 2020. 4. january 13, 2021 news release china: global resistance to deepening repression 202012asia_china_wr 5. july 29, 2020 report “they treated us in monstrous ways” 202007syria_lgbt_main protecting rights, saving lives human rights watch defends the rights of people in 90 countries worldwide, spotlighting abuses and bringing perpetrators to justice (donate) donate now get updates on human rights issues from around the globe. join our movement today. ____________________ submit get updates on rights issues from around the globe ____________________ (sign) sign up connect with us * twitter * facebook * youtube * instagram footer menu * contact us * corrections * privacy policy * permissions * blackbaud security incident © 2021 human rights watch human rights watch | 350 fifth avenue, 34th floor | new york, ny 10118-3299 usa | t 1.212.290.4700 human rights watch is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit registered in the us under ein: 13-2875808 human rights watch iframe: https://www.googletagmanager.com/ns.html?id=gtm-nmqqj4 search this site site search ____________________ search kingston university london search our site share: facebook twitter whatsapp kingston university london search our site share: facebook twitter whatsapp * a–z * advanced search search this site ____________________ search * facebook * twitter * instagram * youtube * pinterest * linkedin * snapchat * courses * news * events * faculties and schools * services for business * jobs * about us * how to find us * contact us * giving * undergraduate study * postgraduate study * international students * research * alumni home > research > research showcase > expert opinion and discussion facebook twitter * research: * about research at kingston * coronavirus * facilities * festival of research * news and events * policies and guides * research and enterprise * research degrees * research showcase * research quality and the ref * vacancies and studentships the cost of statelessness posted monday 3 october 2011 brad blitz for governments seized with the importance of upholding human rights, the issue of statelessness raises a number of important concerns. denial or deprivation of nationality to certain groups of people may foster insecurity and fuel cross-border and inter-ethnic wars – for example in eastern congo. further, recent research has suggested that stateless groups are generally not prioritised in social assistance programs and are further disadvantaged as a result of aid policies which do not succeed in reaching them. all states, as members of the international community, have to meet certain standards under international law. often there is a contradiction between government policies that ban refugees from working and the international legal framework. stateless people (photo credit: greg constantine) stateless people face innumerable barriers, and wider societal and political challenges are posed by their exclusion. obstacles include the denial of opportunities to: establish a legal residence; travel; work in the formal economy; send children to school; access basic health services; purchase or own property; vote; hold elected office; and enjoy the protection of a country. too often the births, marriages, and deaths of stateless people are not certified and, many stateless people lack even basic documentation. data collection about refugees has improved but little research has been done on the livelihoods of stateless people. the lack of data on the livelihoods of stateless people is problematic because sound and effective policies require a strong evidential basis. furthermore, vulnerability does not end with the granting of citizenship. the links between statelessness, forced migration and humanitarian emergencies are well documented. pro-active and pre-emptive policies may prevent major emergencies. stateless people in south east asia and central africa have been the victims of persistent persecution; their exclusion from their home states (eg burma and democratic republic of congo) and lack of access to protection and other resources has fuelled major refugee crises. in order to prevent future humanitarian crises, it is essential causal factors which may give rise to sudden emergencies. statelessness is sustained by poor governance, poverty, corruption, discrimination, and the lack of the rule of law, among other factors. in order to advance shared international development commitments, including the millennium development goals, the us government, un and development agencies need to have a better understanding of how the above factors interact and influence people's livelihoods. a small number of states have made measurable progress in helping individuals acquire or regain citizenship. from september 2010 until august 2011, i led a team of researchers on a project funded by the us department of state (£112,000) which aimed to provide empirical insight into the livelihoods of stateless people. the outcomes of this project will provide important evidence to help the us bureau of population, refugees and migration (prm), other governments, and the united nations high commissioner for refugees to protect stateless individuals and advance their social, economic, and personal well-being. the project sought to examine the gains made by a number of states (bangladesh, kenya, slovenia and sri lanka) and gather quantitative data on the livelihoods of stateless and formerly stateless people to illustrate the benefits that citizenship brings and to identify best practices. statelessness and its implications are politically sensitive subjects. conducting empirical research on the topic can therefore prove to be a very challenging experience in the field. to overcome this, the project has employed a sustainable livelihoods approach (sla) which involves participants in the research process. it is holistic and will look at many strategies that people use to secure their livelihoods and build on these opportunities. the project itself has helped to encourage links and partnerships between individuals and organisations. the quantitative survey stage of the project was completed in spring 2011. results have provided some interesting findings with respect to livelihoods, including lower average income/expenditure levels for individuals who have recently acquired citizenship, explained by levels of access to education. short term citizens continue to suffer from the disadvantages of limited education. "save our culture" banner (photo credit: greg constantine) citizenship also impacts education via parents: those with citizenship tend to educate their children better than those without. parents' education and citizenship has a different impact on the education outcomes of daughters than sons, with sons appearing to benefit more from parents with education and citizenship than daughters in terms of education. level of household and individual health is also important in explaining the impact of citizenship on livelihoods. even when citizenship reforms are introduced and discriminatory nationality laws amended, formerly stateless people endure continued hardships associated with the previous deprivation of nationality rights. the main findings of this study may be summarised below: with respect to livelihood outcomes: a) average per capita household income/expenditure is higher for those who have had citizenship for many years (or all their lives as in the case of the citizen group in bangladeshi and slovenian samples) than those who have more recently acquired citizenship. the results of this study show that statelessness lowers a household's per capita income by 33.7 per cent. b) in each country the impact of citizenship on income varied in terms of its intensity. in sri lanka and kenya, two poor countries, the percentage by which income was reduced for formerly stateless households (as compared against born citizens) was 11.5 per cent and 24.5 per cent respectively. in bangladesh and slovenia, two states where the former stateless groups have been actively excluded from mainstream society it was far greater at 74.5 per cent and 62.5 per cent respectively. (technical note: simple averaging of these country level ratios will not yield the previously reported overall four country ratio of 33.7 per cent. this is to do with mathematical properties of average of ratios.) c) in terms of expenditure, stateless households spent 34 per cent less than citizen households. d) a key explanation of the observed differences in income/expenditure is education. the data suggests that differential access to education undermines livelihoods, with short term citizens continuing to suffer from the disadvantages of limited education. this was particularly evident in the case of bangladesh. e) levels of household and individual health are also extremely important in explaining the impact of citizenship on livelihoods. f) on average, stateless and formerly stateless people are 35 per cent less happy than citizens; education and health positively impact levels of happiness as does owning a house or land. g) statelessness reduces opportunities for education; the educational attainment of stateless and formerly stateless people is markedly lower than for citizens, in spite of the right to universal education. i. in bangladesh the mean education of stateless groups (grade 3) was approximately grade three to six years lower than that of the citizens (grade 9). ii. in kenya the mean education of stateless group (grade 7) was approximately three years is lower than that of the citizens (grade 10). iii. in slovenia the mean education of the 'erased' group (grade 10) was approximately two years lower than that of the citizens (grade 12). iv. in sri lanka, for the formerly stateless group educational attainment was approximately grade 6, one year lower than that of the citizens (grade 7). h) there is strong evidence that household/individual educational attainment strengthens livelihood outcomes. i) statelessness reduces health expectancy. with respect to livelihood assets: a) the odds of having good access to land are lower for stateless and former stateless households. in slovenia and bangladesh, there was less than ten per cent chance of having access to land, just 8.5 per cent and 5.4 per cent respectively. in kenya, the odds of accessing land are especially low, at just 0.65 per cent. b) statelessness reduces owning a house by 59.7 per cent. c) the odds of having social capital vary according to the country of the household; the larger the household the greater the odds of having social capital. each additional member increased the odds by 18.6 per cent. d) though statelessness has no direct effect on the odds of acquiring social capital, poorer households in each country had reduced access. e) female headship also lowers the odds of having social capital by 47.1 per cent. f) in terms of financial capital, the number of females in the household seems to increase the odds of having financial capital – in all the countries studied. each female increases the odds by 20.6 per cent. with respect to vulnerability: a) deprivation of citizenship can come as a shock or as a trend where citizens go on a better trajectory than the non-citizens. b) stateless groups are more likely to be affected by seasonal change, which restricts opportunities for work, access to food, and shelter. c) the impact of this shock and inter-related ones are transmitted across generations as opportunities for education and health are reduced. with respect to livelihood strategies: a) citizens are able to access more paid work than formerly stateless persons. b) in kenya and sri lanka this difference extends to gender, with both citizen and formerly stateless men doing more paid work than citizen and formerly stateless women respectively. within this context more men citizens are professionals and more formerly stateless are casual workers. c) men perform formal work and women perform more informal work, but this is not due to citizenship. with respect to gender parity: a) there are notable gender differences in income/expenditure which can be quantified at both household and individual levels, though citizenship does not seem to account for these gender differences. b) where sufficient numbers of female headed households are available in the sample, the findings record that male headed households were better off than female headed households in terms of livelihoods. c) further, parents' education and citizenship has a different impact on the education outcomes of daughters than sons. sons appear to benefit more from parents with education and citizenship than daughters in terms of education. the results of the in-depth interviews support the quantitative results and provide further insights: a) regarding national identification cards, the processes and barriers to obtaining one are very important and accounted for the longest and deepest responses. reference was repeatedly made to the problem of obtaining the supporting documents required to obtain a national identity card. b) the in-depth interviews reveal that although the impact of the acquisition of nationality has a largely positive effect on livelihoods, it may have limited or no perceived benefit in some cases. c) reported benefits of citizenship include being able to purchase land, get a trade license, enrol children in school, and other social and economic benefits. d) access to education is affected by change in legal status. e) responses to the gender parity question were broad in nature rather than focused on the challenges facing women's capacity to guarantee their livelihoods. f) while most of the respondents did not experience problems of vulnerability in terms of interactions with police and other law enforcement bodies, some did. g) seasonal change is a matter of concern for stateless people in some countries. the core research team consisted of myself, dr maureen lynch, dr rajith lakshman and samantha balaton chrimes. field research was carried out by expert teams engaged from local ngos and research centres in bangladesh (ai falah), kenya (centre for minority rights development), slovenia (mirovni tnstitut/peace institute), and sri lanka (university of colombo). refugees walking (photo credit: greg constantine) further research is required on the long-term effects of statelessness on people's lives, the realisation of their rights and capacities for economic and social development, and political participation. this research should focus on the areas identified as particularly problematic in this study, specifically, the intergenerational effects of deprivation of nationality. overall, this was a fascinating and important study, which will hopefully serve both to inform policy and encourage greater research on this neglected subject. by professor brad blitz, centre for earth and environmental science research professor brad blitz has an international reputation for his work on the challenges of post-conflict integration, statelessness, and the return of refugees. he has been called upon to advise several un agencies including unicef and undp. professor blitz is a member of kingston university's centre for earth and environmental science research which brings together experts in three research areas – geodynamics and crustal processes; environmental change; and agriculture, people and place. research * about research at kingston * coronavirus * facilities * festival of research * news and events * policies and guides * research and enterprise * research degrees * research showcase + case studies + expert opinion and discussion + networks + three minute thesis * research quality and the ref * vacancies and studentships kingston university expert explores whether covid-19 pandemic can be catalyst to develop more sustainable approach to festive period 18 december 2020 kingston university expert explores whether covid-19 pandemic can be catalyst to develop more sustainable approach to festive period bringing seasonal spirit to the hospital ward: kingston university academic shares experiences of nursing during the festive period 14 december 2020 bringing seasonal spirit to the hospital ward: kingston university academic shares experiences of nursing during the festive period report showing higher number of coronavirus deaths in people with learning disabilities highlights need for immediate action, kingston university expert says 18 november 2020 report showing higher number of coronavirus deaths in people with learning disabilities highlights need for immediate action, kingston university expert says research into athletes' views on doping reveal issue cannot be dealt with in isolation, kingston university expert outlines ahead of clean sport conference 9 november 2020 research into athletes' views on doping reveal issue cannot be dealt with in isolation, kingston university expert outlines ahead of clean sport conference research * about research at kingston * coronavirus * facilities * festival of research * news and events * policies and guides * research and enterprise * research degrees * research showcase + case studies + expert opinion and discussion + networks + three minute thesis * research quality and the ref * vacancies and studentships contact us * for non-student research enquiries, email the research support office * research support office contacts * graduate research school contacts * business and enterprise centre contacts * how to get to kingston university research * about research at kingston * coronavirus * facilities * festival of research * news and events * policies and guides * research and enterprise * research degrees * research showcase + case studies + expert opinion and discussion + networks + three minute thesis * research quality and the ref * vacancies and studentships site menu * home * undergraduate study * postgraduate study * international students * research * alumni * courses * news * events * faculties and schools * services for business * giving * jobs * about us * how to find us * contact us * disclaimer * copyright * website accessibility * website feedback * freedom of information * wider information set * privacy notice and cookies * charitable status * facebook * twitter * instagram * youtube * pinterest * linkedin * snapchat kingston university, river house, 53–57 high street, kingston upon thames, surrey kt1 1lq. tel: +44 (0)20 8417 9000 research * about research at kingston * coronavirus * facilities * festival of research * news and events * policies and guides * research and enterprise * research degrees * research showcase + case studies + expert opinion and discussion + networks + three minute thesis * research quality and the ref * vacancies and studentships site menu * home * undergraduate study * postgraduate study * international students * research * alumni * courses * news * events * faculties and schools * services for business * giving * jobs * about us * how to find us * contact us (button) search live * news (button) تبديل القائمة + middle east + africa + asia + us & canada + latin america + europe + asia pacific * coronavirus * features * economy * opinion * video * more (button) تبديل القائمة + investigations + interactives + in pictures + climate + science & technology + sports + podcasts opinion opinions|refugees being stateless in america “i’m not from here, i’m not from there; i don’t belong anywhere.” * abraham t zere abraham t zere exiled eritrean journalist/writer based in the us 7 sep 2017 a man's suit hangs off a street marker as a cab carrying asylum seekers pulls up near the us-canada border in champlain, new york [christinne muschi/reuters] a man's suit hangs off a street marker as a cab carrying asylum seekers pulls up near the us-canada border in champlain, new york [christinne muschi/reuters] if exile is characterised by an endless feeling of estrangement, seeking political asylum is a perpetual state of anxiety. when i started the process of claiming asylum in the united states, an apparently safe and democratic country, i assumed it would help seal off the trauma of my life in eritrea, the country i had fled. i hoped it would open a new chapter. al jazeera selects: refugees: between worlds in israel, turkey and greece (25:00) but as i embarked on the journey of asylum, i realised that there is a comprehensive dehumanisation process at the heart of it all. the deeper you descend into the legal process of escape, the more you are required to prove who you are, prove the horrors of your experience, while all the time revisiting the very things that forced you to flee. as part of my claim, i had to request testimonies, collect evidence, and continually delve back into the most traumatic moments of my past. i had to re-examine my life in intense detail, checking with friends and former colleagues the exactitude of my own memories. “so when, exactly, were we taken to the labour camp?” “do you remember the exact month the university of asmara was closed?” “do you remember when they rounded us up in the … ?” all this, only to remain in a limbo state. it took me more than two years and four months to be interviewed by us citizenship and immigration services. for the duration of that time, i was designated as a “pending asylee”. my rights to receive any state help or services, from either my home or host country, were on hold. read more: how does it feel to be a refugee? i had a temporary work permit, but as a pending asylee, i did not fit into any clear bureaucratic category, which meant i couldn’t apply for a permanent job, or officially pursue my studies. i was told applications are normally processed within a month when i submitted mine in san francisco. two years later, i was still waiting. after a prolonged period with no news, i went to the asylum office in san francisco to inquire about my case. “speak english?” asked a woman on the other side of the glass. i nodded, yes. then, i started to explain the dire situation i was in. i told her how i had been waiting for months. i told her how this legal limbo was affecting me. neither am i present here, nor in my home. no matter how hard i try, i am forever an outsider who speaks with a heavy accent. “work permit?” she interrupted. yes, i replied. “go work then. we are here to help you.” i left the office, to return to my torment where insecurity, fear and uncertainty loomed. i was sure a bleak future awaited me. in november 2015, i was finally elevated to “asylee” status. my first act as a legal us resident was to go to a bank to open a savings account. but after checking my immigration status and tapping on his keyboard for a while, the bank manager turned and told me: “i am sorry, but you can’t open an account with us as your immigration status does not fit into our categories. you either have to be a permanent resident or a citizen. we do not have a category called ‘asylee’ or ‘refugee’.” in that moment, it became clear to me: securing asylum was only the beginning of a life-long journey of a neither-nor state. meanwhile, my idea of home was becoming increasingly romanticised and i became confused – perhaps i could just return? read more: an afghan refugee in europe: ‘all i can do is pray’ but home is no longer there. it is a surreal dream, a pastiche of images that cascade in my mind without reason. neither am i present here, nor in my home. no matter how hard i try, i am forever an outsider who speaks with a heavy accent. but maybe these places are not so different. i fled from a police state where freedom of movement is nearly nonexistent, where official papers and endless checkpoints restrict your travel. i used to think that securing political asylum would rescue me from this world for good. but even once my place in the us was secure, it seemed i was once again frozen in place. my first attempt to journey abroad – for an international film festival and forum on human rights that was held in geneva, switzerland in march 2016 – failed because i couldn’t get my travel documents in time. i had to participate via skype. read more: refugee: safe but lonely, seeking asylum in germany a similar thing happened when i tried to travel to norway in march 2017 to participate in a congress hosted by my organisation, pen eritrea. because of travel document delays, we were forced to postpone the congress. meanwhile, i also had to cancel my plans to travel to the uk in june 2017. it was not only a matter of securing a valid travel document, but also dealing with the demanding entry visa applications, where most consular offices have their cautionary notices on their websites, “you are advised to apply at least two months before your scheduled travel.” in july 2017, five years after arriving in the us, i was allowed to travel outside of us borders for the first time to attend pen eritrea’s congress in norway. expecting the inevitable hassles and delays by the immigration office at the airport, i arrived at check-in hours before the departure time. i could clearly read the confusion on the immigration officer’s face as he leafed through the pages of my travel document. after finally making sure that i had secured a schengen visa, he asked: “which country’s passport is this?” “it’s a travel document for a stateless,” i replied. opinion: i listen to refugees and i hear my own story he grabbed his phone and started to make calls. each time he read the title of the document, my country of origin, my travel destination and the office that had issued the document. in between the calls he would turn to me and politely say: “i just want to make sure i’m not missing anything. i have not seen this document before and don’t want to make mistakes.” after around 30 minutes, i was cleared. i was on my way. “where are you from?” the lady over the counter asks me in a bar. i take a deep breath before answering. “i’m not from here, i’m not from there; i don’t belong anywhere.” abraham t zere is a us-based eritrean writer and journalist who is serving as the executive director of pen eritrea in exile. among others, his articles – that mainly deal with eritrea’s gross human rights abuses and lack of freedom of expression – have appeared in the guardian, the independent and the index on censorship magazine. the views expressed in this article are the author’s own and do not necessarily reflect al jazeera’s editorial policy. __________________________________________________________________ * abraham t zere abraham t zere exiled eritrean journalist/writer based in the us zere's work has been published in the guardian, the independent, index on censorship magazine, dissent magazine, among others. __________________________________________________________________ related abdikafi mohamed would like to bring his family to germany from somalia one day [yermi brenner] refugee: safe but lonely, seeking asylum in germany somali migrants seek asylum in europe, hesitantly leaving behind their families and their conflict-torn homeland. 21 jun 2015 many of the actors in terrestrial journeys live in the palestinian refugee camps [bridgette auger/al jazeera] how does it feel to be a refugee? on exploring the refugee experience through theatre. 21 dec 2015 more from author this is what it is like to travel as a stateless person rows of united airlines check-in counters at o'hare international airport in chicago are seen unoccupied on june 25, 2020, amid the coronavirus pandemic [ap/teresa crawford] can eritrea’s government survive the coronavirus? the coronavirus pandemic will likely spell trouble for eritrea's authoritarian government led by president isaias afwerki, writes zere [feisal omar/reuters] trump’s travel ban: thousands of lives in limbo on january 31, us president donald trump expanded his controversial travel ban to include eritrea, kyrgyzstan, myanmar, sudan, tanzania and nigeria [reuters] xenophobia threatens to undermine sudan’s revolution irregular migrants wait to be transported after being arrested by sudan's paramilitary rapid support forces (rsf) on the khartoum state border, sudan. september 25, 2019 [mohamed n abdallah/reuters] most read ‘the world’s most powerful weapon’: n korea parades new missile north korea showcased new weapons at a night-time parade to mark the end of the ruling party's eighth congress [kcna via reuters] uganda counts votes after tense presidential election: live news electoral commission officials start to count ballot papers for the presidential election at a polling centre in kampala, uganda, on january 14, 2021 [yasuyoshi chiba/afp] dozens killed, hundreds injured as quake hits indonesia’s sulawesi people look at the damaged provincial office of governor of west sulawesi following an earthquake early on friday [akbar tado/antara foto via reuters] what’s behind the significant build-up of us firepower in the gulf the aircraft carrier uss nimitz, front, and the guided-missile cruiser uss philippine sea during a strait of hormuz transit [file: elliot schaudt/afp] * about (button) تبديل القائمة + about us + code of ethics + terms and conditions + privacy policy + cookie policy + cookie preferences + community guidelines + work for us + hr quality * connect (button) تبديل القائمة + contact us + apps + newsletters + channel finder + tv schedule + podcasts + submit a tip * our channels (button) تبديل القائمة + al jazeera arabic + al jazeera english + al jazeera mubasher + al jazeera documentary + al jazeera balkans + aj+ * our network (button) تبديل القائمة + al jazeera centre for studies + al jazeera media institute + learn arabic + al jazeera centre for public liberties & human rights + al jazeera forum + al jazeera hotel partners follow al jazeera english: logo © 2021 al jazeera media network #icct » feed icct » comments feed icct » uk measures rendering terror suspects stateless: a punishment more primitive than torture comments feed alternate alternate ____________________ search ____________________ search * about + mission o advisory & implementation o research & analysis o evaluation capacity + people o staff # core staff # research fellows # associate fellows # visiting fellows o editorial board o board of advisors o partners + founding institutions + board of advisors + careers + latest * events + online events + summer programme * icct journal + author guidelines + search * topics + preventing/countering violent extremism + ct strategic communications + criminal justice response + foreign fighters + lone actors & terrorist groups + military & intelligence + monitoring & evaluation + policies & instruments + rehabilitation & reintegration * projects * regions + north america + asia + east africa + europe + mena/maghreb + west africa & sahel * icct10 + evolutions in counter-terrorism + flashpoints + handbook of terrorism prevention and preparedness * enquiries + icct in the media + press kit + newsletter * about + mission o advisory & implementation o research & analysis o evaluation capacity + people o staff # core staff # research fellows # associate fellows # visiting fellows o editorial board o board of advisors o partners + founding institutions + board of advisors + careers + latest * events + online events + summer programme * icct journal + author guidelines + search * topics + preventing/countering violent extremism + ct strategic communications + criminal justice response + foreign fighters + lone actors & terrorist groups + military & intelligence + monitoring & evaluation + policies & instruments + rehabilitation & reintegration * projects * regions + north america + asia + east africa + europe + mena/maghreb + west africa & sahel * icct10 + evolutions in counter-terrorism + flashpoints + handbook of terrorism prevention and preparedness * enquiries + icct in the media + press kit + newsletter * latin america * north america * west africa & sahel * europe * mena/maghreb * east africa * asia * north america map blank east africa europe middle east africa north america south america south asia arrow south east asia mena maghreb west africa sahel publications uk measures rendering terror suspects stateless: a punishment more primitive than torture dr. christophe paulussen 5 jun 2014 by dr. christophe paulussen and dr. laura van waas the issue of “foreign terrorist fighters” (ftfs) leaving to and coming back from the syrian battlefields is climbing the agenda in more and more countries. officials use a broad spectrum of measures to address the phenomenon, from customised plans to detach certain individuals from their jihadist surroundings, conspicuous surveillance and disruption by the police, to various forms of pressure, prosecution and administrative law measures. in respect of the latter, governments are increasingly exploring the use of powers to regulate access to citizenship as a means to try to influence individual behaviour or mitigate the terrorist threat. in the netherlands, for example, the minister of security and justice, ivo opstelten, explained to parliament in march 2013 that “dutch nationals can be stripped of their citizenship if they have been convicted of a terrorist offence, provided they also hold another nationality. citizenship cannot be revoked if this would render an individual stateless”, amid discussions about whether these powers should be expanded. in austria, france and canada, there is currently debate about the need to amend the nationality laws to make it easier to deprive ftfs and (suspected) terrorists of their citizenship. meanwhile, in the uk, home secretary theresa may has managed to push through law reform that goes one step further, and arguably a step too far, in the fight against terrorism: it is not just a person’s british citizenship which may be under threat, but his or her very belonging to any state at all. the uk has removed a critical safeguard that protected people from being deprived of nationality if this would render them stateless. these political debates and policy changes around citizenship in the context of the fight against terrorism expose some worrying tensions in the relationship between people and states today. human rights law recognises nationality as a fundamental right and statelessness is known to have a severely detrimental impact on the enjoyment of a wide range of other human rights. this is why the un has adopted conventions dedicated to the prevention of statelessness and the protection of stateless persons. nevertheless, governments still treat nationality as a privilege which a person must (continue to) earn. moreover, at a time when the international community is devoting increasing attention to the fight against statelessness, states are allowing important safeguards against statelessness in their citizenship regimes to be eroded on grounds of “public interest”. the idea of using citizenship policy as a tool to achieve certain political or public policy ends is not a new one. in the 1930s in the netherlands, for instance, the government responded to the problem of dutch volunteers participating in the spanish civil war (fighting with the communist brigades against franco), by actively identifying fighters and stripping them of their dutch nationality. many dozens were left stateless by this measure, although following the disbanding of foreign volunteer fighters after the war, the netherlands nevertheless concluded an agreement which allowed them to return. later, the dutch government was ultimately also forced to deal with the “misery of statelessness” these former fighters endured through re-naturalisation policies adopted successively into the 1960s. during the same period, across the atlantic, the united states also confronted questions about the use of citizenship as a policy tool in the context of armed conflict – but now in the context of responding to someone who was refusing to fulfil his military obligations and fight for his country. when albert trop deserted the us army while serving in morocco in 1944, he was not only dishonourably discharged and dismissed from the military, but the government also sought to remove his us citizenship. however, the us supreme court blocked this move, ruling in 1958 that such denationalisation was barred by the eighth amendment which prohibits cruel and unusual punishment, and torture. chief justice warren explained that to strip someone of their nationality and leave them stateless “is a form of punishment more primitive than torture, for it destroys for the individual the political existence that was centuries in the development. the punishment strips the citizen of his status in the national and international political community. his very existence is at the sufferance of the country in which he happens to find himself. while any one country may accord him some rights and, presumably, as long as he remained in this country, he would enjoy the limited rights of an alien, no country need do so, because he is stateless. furthermore, his enjoyment of even the limited rights of an alien might be subject to termination at any time by reason of deportation. in short, the expatriate has lost the right to have rights”. history then, already cautions against the deliberate use of citizenship policy, or more particularly of statelessness, as a way to suppress or punish unwanted behaviour – be it where individuals are too keen to fight or not keen enough. yet governments continue to reach for their citizenship powers when a new threat is felt. the recent policy developments in the uk should be understood against the backdrop of the al-jedda case in which the home secretary was defeated in her attempt to deprive hilal al-jedda, a high-profile terror suspect, of his british citizenship. the uk supreme court ruled that the fact that al-jedda could possibly regain his former (iraqi) nationality in the future, was not sufficient to satisfy the terms of the british nationality act which prohibited deprivation of nationality if this would result in statelessness. as a result, the government could not deprive al-jedda of his nationality. the supreme court issued its decision on 9 october 2013 and on 29 january 2014 the uk government introduced a clause in a new immigration bill that would amend the british nationality act 1981 to expand the powers of deprivation. this clause, clause 60 (later clause 64), would enable the secretary of state (the home secretary) to deprive a person of his/her citizenship, if the citizenship has been gained through naturalisation and if “the secretary of state is satisfied that the deprivation is conducive to the public good because the person, while having that citizenship status, has conducted him or herself in a manner which is seriously prejudicial to the vital interests of the united kingdom, any of the islands, or any british overseas territory, even if to do so would have the effect of making a person stateless” [emphasis added]. this would likely be interpreted to include “british fighters returning from syria who are suspected of having fought alongside jihadists”, and goes further than ‘merely’ stripping those fighters of their uk citizenship when they have dual nationality – a practice that has, incidentally, also increased recently. although the clause very quickly passed the house of commons, not leaving much time for scrutiny, the house of lords was more critical. on 17 march 2014, lord pannick noted, for instance: “it is a matter for considerable regret that the united kingdom, which has played so significant a role in the battle to reduce statelessness, should now, if the government have their way, condone the creation of statelessness, even for people who have damaged the public good. such people should be put on trial, punished if there is evidence of criminal offences and deported if there is a safe country to which they can be sent. however, to deprive them of nationality and thereby render them international outcasts is simply indefensible. (…) my current view is that clause 60 is so fundamentally flawed, so in breach of international law and so damaging in its practical consequences for the security of this country that it should be removed from the bill.” and in the same vein, lord macdonald of river glaven noted: “[t]his proposal is not only ugly in the sense identified so many years ago by hannah arendt; it not only associates the united kingdom with a policy beloved of the world’s worst regimes during the 20th century; but it threatens illegal and procedural quagmire hardly compatible with the comity of nations, still less with solidarity between free countries in the face of terrorism.” in a subsequent debate within the house of lords, on 7 april 2014, baroness kennedy of the shaws raised the cases of those dual nationals deprived of british citizenship under existing powers, only to be kidnapped or killed in us drone strikes – a point already raised by ian macdonald, the former president of the immigration law practitioners’ association – and wondered: “is that the purpose of this change of law, that we might be able to do things that make people vulnerable and deny them their rights, creating yet more black holes where no law obtains but where we cannot be accused of complicity?” external commentators were also highly skeptical of the government’s plans. some likened the uk’s new citizenship policy to the reintroduction of “medieval exile”. concerns were voiced from many fronts, including by ben emmerson, the un special rapporteur on the promotion and protection of human rights and fundamental freedoms while countering terrorism. kat craig, legal director of human rights organisation reprieve warned that may’s plans would set “a terrible example around the world.” shami chakrabarti, director of human rights organisation liberty, stated that “removing the right to have rights is a new low. washing our hands of potential terrorists is dangerously short-sighted and statelessness is a tool of despots not democrats.” deeply concerned by their country’s new nonchalance towards statelessness, pannick and other peers tabled an amendment, which was designed to scrutinise these expanded deprivation powers more closely. it passed 242 to 180. however, theresa may then successfully convinced the members of the house of commons to overturn the house of lords’ amendment by offering minor concessions with regards to the manner in which the new powers to revoke citizenship would be implemented (the home secretary won the vote by 305 to 239 on 7 may 2014). provision was made for an independent reviewer to examine how the powers work and the home secretary would only be able to “make an individual stateless if she has ‘reasonable grounds for believing’ they can acquire the citizenship of another country”. this wording is highly curious. on the one hand, it acknowledges that the uk has specific international obligations when it comes to the avoidance of statelessness as a consequence of deprivation of nationality – including under the 1961 un convention on the reduction of statelessness – and should therefore tread extremely carefully so as not to be in breach of these obligations. on the other hand, it fundamentally misinterprets those international obligations by suggesting that the obligation to prevent statelessness is not at issue where there are “reasonable grounds for believing” (vague terminology indeed) that the person can acquire the citizenship of another country (a newly fabricated proviso not found anywhere within international law). furthermore, one can seriously wonder how this would work in practice. in the words of baroness kennedy of the shaws: “would another country seriously consider giving nationality, even to someone who might have the ability to apply for nationality of that country, if it knew that british citizenship had been removed on the grounds that the person was believed to be in some way linked to, or to condone, international terrorism?” in addition to this valid point, the decision to deprive people of their citizenship would, in the eyes of reprieve, remain in the hands of the home secretary, which flags serious due process concerns, and the measures would still only count for naturalised britons, thus creating two classes of citizens, a practice reminiscent of nazi germany or of iraq led by saddam hussein. the stripping of british and thereby eu citizenship to leave a person stateless may also raise issues under european union law, as seen in the 2010 rottmann ruling by the european court of justice. and finally, one can seriously wonder whether the compromise is effective in practice and not in violation of e.g. un security council resolution 1373 in which it was decided that all states shall ensure that terrorism suspects are brought to justice. indeed, is it not much more efficient and safer to prosecute a terrorism suspect than to take away his citizenship? after all, if this person wants to do harm, he/she will do it, with or without a british passport. surprisingly and disappointingly, on 12 may 2014, the house of lords, in a 286 to 193 vote, approved the new compromise, with even lord pannick welcoming the plans as a “very substantial concession” (and abstaining from the vote). it is a great shame to see that with technical reassurances and newly-created procedures, fundamental principles are slowly but surely being eroded. in the words of lord macdonald of river glaven: “i remain of the view that the united kingdom should not embrace a policy where one of its potential results is statelessness, associated with so many of the degenerate states of the 20th century, and where the outcome, if it is statelessness, is so hostile to human dignity in its most basic form. this is particularly so where that policy is also bound to strike against the international accord that is so central to the maintenance of security both between and within states. in the long run, we cannot and will not make the united kingdom a safer place by dumping our security threats abroad, sometimes into states where the capacity for dealing with them is completely debased, so that they simply grow.” indeed, besides the already-mentioned point that the effectiveness of this compromise to keep people safe is in doubt, there is a far more principled issue here: if ‘normal’ deprivation of citizenship (of persons having dual nationality) is already leading to “the lawless excesses of the ‘war on terror’: kidnap or death by drone”, one should be extra careful when removing the fundamental right to have rights in its entirety. it is naïve to think that we can ‘win’ the fight against terrorism with such measures. the only thing we can arguably do, when addressing terrorism, is to include rather than exclude persons – as exactly exclusion might be a factor conducive to radicalisation of persons – and adhere to the principles, values and norms we believe in. only by playing by the (international) rules, in times when it really matters, even if the adversary is not doing the same, can we counter the terrorist threat – and not in any other way. topics * policies & instruments * monitoring & evaluation share list * navigation + about o mission # advisory & implementation # research & analysis # evaluation capacity o people # staff @ core staff @ research fellows @ associate fellows @ visiting fellows # editorial board # board of advisors # partners o founding institutions o board of advisors o careers o latest + events o online events o summer programme + icct journal o author guidelines o search + topics o preventing/countering violent extremism o ct strategic communications o criminal justice response o foreign fighters o lone actors & terrorist groups o military & intelligence o monitoring & evaluation o policies & instruments o rehabilitation & reintegration + projects + regions o north america o asia o east africa o europe o mena/maghreb o west africa & sahel + icct10 o evolutions in counter-terrorism o flashpoints o handbook of terrorism prevention and preparedness + enquiries o icct in the media o press kit o newsletter * contact * careers * sitemap iframe: https://www.googletagmanager.com/ns.html?id=gtm-psjmcl #dutchnews.nl » feed dutchnews.nl » comments feed alternate alternate dutch news brings daily news from the netherlands in english (button) * news * features * books * columns * live & culture * 10 questions * travel * blogs * best of the web * donate * advertising dutch news brings daily news from the netherlands in english friday 15 january 2021 * news * home * corona * politics * business * society * sport * education * health * international * europe features * home * books * columns * life & culture * 10 questions * travel * podcasts blogs * home * submit your blog… jobs * home * find out more… housing * home best of the web * home donate advertise [social-icon-facebook.svg] [social-icon-twitter.svg] [social-icon-linkedin.svg] [social-icon-instagram.svg] [social-icon-soundcloud.svg] [social-icon-email.svg] ‘i can now hear the monday alarm without fear’ 10 questions [social-icon-facebook.svg] [social-icon-twitter.svg] [social-icon-linkedin.svg] [social-icon-rss.svg] [svg%3e] october 21, 2020 rami abusaleh (31) arrived in the netherlands as a refugee in 2014, stateless and alone. he has since got married, become a dutch national, and is beginning to heal from the trauma of living with conflict and oppression in his home country of syria. a master’s student in comparative literature at the university of amsterdam, rami dreams one day of having his own educational centre for cultural analysis. he is currently seeking work. how did you end up in the netherlands? after a long journey of asylum-seeking from syria to malaysia, and then to brazil, i arrived in the netherlands. i left syria during crisis and war and i tried to find a better life in malaysia, but i couldn’t because it was hard for me to find a job. i got a student visa for one year there. after that, i found a way to brazil to seek asylum, but the government didn’t offer any support – just papers. after nine days in brazil, i managed to get on a flight to malaysia with a european transit in amsterdam, where i sought asylum. how do you describe yourself – an expat, lovepat, immigrant, international etc? all of them, i think. and we can add ‘refugee’ also. everything adds something to your personality. wherever you go, you take something from there. i’m semi-dutch, semi-refugee. i was born in syria, but my father was born in palestine, so when i came to the netherlands, i felt like i was a refugee for the second time. before the war, there were more than 500,000 palestinian refugees in syria. how long do you plan to stay? as long as i can. i was once stateless. now i’m dutch and i’m happy here. i have a family. i met a girl here and we are married now and i have a good life here and i hope that i find my way. do you speak dutch and how did you learn? yes, i speak dutch very well – i think. i learnt at a dutch language school as a part of the integration process. i think that, for anyone who speaks english, it’s easy to learn dutch. maybe it’s hard to speak, but you can understand many words from english. what’s your favourite dutch thing? i have many favourite dutch things, but i think maybe gouda cheese! i live in woerden, close to gouda, and we have many shops here that make it themselves and it’s delicious. sometimes i make a mix between dutch and syrian cuisine. i have my own original recipes! take any dish in the world and add potatoes to it and you have a dutch dish! how dutch have you become? quite dutch i think – to the extent that i can hear the alarm the first monday in every month without any fear, and just ignore it. when i came to the netherlands, it was horrible to hear that sound and see that dutch people, they don’t care about it at all. when you come from a war zone and you hear an alarm and you see nonchalance… but now i hear it and there is no fear at all. which three dutch people (dead or alive) would you most like to meet? first, mieke bal. she is a professor at our university and the co-founder of the amsterdam school for cultural analysis. she has written many books and i am influenced by her theoretical writing. if i met her, i would ask her to be my supervisor for a phd programme, maybe! next, anthoni van leeuwenhoek. he was the father of microbiology. he was one of the pioneers in inventing microscopes. i would like to meet him in this time of corona crisis because his invention changed the world. the next person is vincent van gogh. i’d like to meet him and see how he was drawing and making his paintings. i’d ask him: ‘could you please make a picture for me?’ what’s your top tourist tip? actually, i don’t do much tourism here in the netherlands; i go abroad every year. but i can recommend my city: woerden. it’s very nice but nobody comes – i don’t know why! it’s really amazing landscapes and lots of canals and rivers, and we have many parks here with swans, geese and ducks. we also have a castle and cheese factories and galleries. there is also an annual cow market in october. tell us something surprising you’ve found out about the netherlands here’s something funny. when i first came here, in 2014, immigration officials would call me, my friends, and maybe five or six other people, ‘meneer’. it was surprising for us as ‘muneer’ is a man’s name in arabic! ‘why are we all muneers?’ we wondered! it was a matter of misunderstanding. but the most important difference between here and syria is the mentality of the people. when you talk to anybody here, they are always smiling and calm. in my country, it’s easy to be angry or use a loud voice. but here it’s different. i’ve met many dutch people, who if they are really angry, don’t raise their voices at all. in syria, there’s been 40 years of oppression and dictatorship. nobody is allowed to say anything, so you are afraid of anyone in the street, and you are always aware and ready to have a fight or quarrel. if you had just 24 hours left in the netherlands, what would you do? i would stop time and stay forever in the last 24 hours here. that’s the truth, because i cannot go back anywhere. if you are going voluntarily, it differs from being deported or something else. so, for me, this answer has many dimensions. rami is currently seeking work in the field of culture and literature, teaching and translation. you can find out more about his professional background and contact him here. rami was talking to deborah nicholls-lee. thank you for donating to dutchnews.nl the dutchnews.nl team would like to thank all the generous readers who have made a donation in recent weeks. your financial support has helped us to expand our coverage of the coronavirus crisis into the evenings and weekends and make sure you are kept up to date with the latest developments. dutchnews.nl has been free for 14 years, but without the financial backing of our readers, we would not be able to provide you with fair and accurate news and features about all things dutch. your contributions make this possible. if you have not yet made a donation, but would like to, you can do so via ideal, credit card or paypal. __________________________________________________________________ __________________________________________________________________ features more features > five things you didn’t know about funeral insurance huawei and european industry are natural partners 'the dutch take being 'gezellig' to olympic standards, it is very comforting' meet the brexiles who have swapped the uk for the netherlands to escape brexit a whole host of trouble: launching a dutch thriller in english during covid dutchnews podcast – the blazing bicycles and ferris wheels edition – week 1 __________________________________________________________________ __________________________________________________________________ daily newsletter sign up __________________________________________________________________ search ____________________ search __________________________________________________________________ best of the web * meet the first black woman to found a political party in europe * what is happening to the dutch far right? from wilders to baudet… * marco van basten: ‘it was a very big fall and a really dark time’ __________________________________________________________________ __________________________________________________________________ __________________________________________________________________ * news + politics + business + society + sport + health + education * features + columns + life & culture + 10 questions + best of the web o podcast * community + blogs + jobs + housing + comments o facebook # twitter @ linkedin * about us + the team o work with us + advertising + rss feed + privacy + contact + terms of use * services amsterdam + handyman amsterdam + plumber amsterdam + electrician amsterdam + klusjesman amsterdam + loodgieter amsterdam + timmerman amsterdam * other services + 10toptest + dutch health insurance __________________________________________________________________ © 2021 dutchnews | website by vindustries sponsored help us to keep providing you information about coronavirus in the netherlands. many thanks to everyone who has donated to dutchnews.nl in recent days! we could not provide this service without you. if you have not yet made a contribution, you can do so here. the dutchnews.nl team donate now (button) remind me later (button) no thanks #alternate alternate alternate iframe: https://www.googletagmanager.com/ns.html?id=gtm-wx7qckl free movement logo free movement logo * hubs * archive * legal advice + do it yourself guides and ebooks + ask us anything video link + application checking service + full representation + your purchases * members + the forum + online immigration law training + learn immigration law course (oisc l1) + your account * about * help what are the uk immigration rules on statelessness... join / login (search) ____________________ menu explore a hub everything in one place oisc resources case law eu free movement visit visa procedure business and study immigration nationality human rights family immigration detention deportation children asylum (search) ____________________ * hubs * about * legal advice + guides & ebooks + video link + application checking + full representation * members + forum + training courses + learn immigration law course (oisc l1) + your account * help * log in/join sorry, the details you entered weren't correct, please try again login username or email address ____________________ password ____________________ [ ] remember me log in forgot your password? or become a member of free movement today join updates, commentary, training and advice on immigration and asylum law eu settlement scheme course now available free to members what are the uk immigration rules on statelessness? 27th march 2019 by nath gbikpi favorite loading add to favorites hubs / asylum / what are the uk immigration ru ... what are the uk immigration rules on statelessness? page contents * who is stateless? + state + under operation of the law * the requirements of the rules + 1. meeting the definition + 2. no reason for exclusion + 3. making a valid application + 4. passing the non-admissibility test + 5. submitting enough evidence + 6. avoiding refusal on security grounds + 7. don’t forget the new requirements * other considerations when making an application * what leave is granted? * family members people who do not have citizenship of any country in the world — the “stateless” — can get leave to remain in the uk because they have nowhere else to go. the criteria for this leave are found at part 14 of the immigration rules. the home office also has guidance on statelessness and applications for leave to remain. in addition, practitioners should refer to the 1954 convention relating to the status of stateless persons, and the unhcr handbook on protection of stateless persons. the home office guidance states that, when there are differences between the handbook and the guidance, the guidance will take precedence. the guidance is likely to be updated soon to reflect changes in the immigration rules due to come into force on 6 april 2019. this post looks at statelessness in light of the amended immigration rules. who is stateless? paragraph 401 of the immigration rules adopts the definition of the 1954 convention. a stateless person is defined as a “person who is not considered as a national by any state under the operation of its law”. state the guidance says that “a ‘state’ will be one recognised as such by the uk. this is regardless of the effectiveness of its government”. example kosovo is not recognised as a state by spain, but it is recognised as a state by the uk. therefore, a national of kosovo, who is recognised as a citizen by kosovo, will not be considered stateless by the uk. venezuela is currently facing such an economic crisis that many venezuelan nationals have been unable to get passports, because of a shortage of papers. venezuela does, however, continue to be considered a state. a venezuelan national will not be considered stateless, even if they cannot obtain a passport confirming their nationality. under operation of the law even if someone seems to be a citizen under the law of a particular state, they may still be considered stateless if they are not treated as a citizen in practice. the home office recognises that: where the national authorities have in practice treated an individual as a non-national even though: the applicant appears to meet the criteria for automatic acquisition of nationality under the operation of a country’s laws the applicant has cooperated with reasonable requests from the state it is the position of the national authorities rather than the letter of the law that is likely to be decisive in concluding that a state does not consider such an individual as a national. for example, this may occur where discrimination against a particular group is widespread in government departments or where, in practice, the law governing automatic acquisition at birth is systematically ignored and individuals are required instead to prove additional ties to a state. the requirements of the rules in summary, for someone to be granted leave on the basis of statelessness, they must: * not be “excluded” from recognition as a stateless person * meet the definition of statelessness * make a valid application * not be admissible to another country * have obtained and submitted all reasonable evidence * not fall for refusal on the grounds of being a danger to the security or public order of the uk; or on grounds set out at paragraph 322 of the immigration rules in addition, for applications made on or after 6 april 2019, applications will need to show that: * they have sought and failed to obtain or re-establish their nationality with the authorities of the relevant country * if they are a child born in the uk, they have provided evidence that they have attempted to register their birth with the relevant authorities but have been refused. 1. meeting the definition the first requirement to be granted leave on the basis of statelessness is to meet the definition in the previous section: not being considered a citizen by any country in the world. however, that is not the end of the game. applicants must meet additional requirements set out below. 2. no reason for exclusion paragraph 402 of the immigration rules set out the reasons why a person may be excluded from recognition as a stateless person. click for full text of paragraph 402 402. a person is excluded from recognition as a stateless person if there are serious reasons for considering that they: (a) are at present receiving from organs or agencies of the united nations, other than the united nations high commissioner for refugees, protection or assistance, so long as they are receiving such protection or assistance; (b) are recognised by the competent authorities of the country of their former habitual residence as having the rights and obligations which are attached to the possession of the nationality of that country; (c) have committed a crime against peace, a war crime, or a crime against humanity, as defined in the international instruments drawn up to make provisions in respect of such crimes; (d) have committed a serious non-political crime outside the uk prior to their arrival in the uk; (e) have been guilty of acts contrary to the purposes and principles of the united nations. in summary, a person will not be recognised as stateless where 1. they have alternative protection, i.e. they are assisted by unrwa or the country where they used to live is giving them legal rights as though they were a citizen of that country, or 2. they are “undeserving” due to their own actions, such as having committed war crimes, serious non-political crimes, or acts contrary to the purposes and principles of the united nations 3. making a valid application applications are made online, and there is no fee. applicants will need to enrol their biometric information (i.e. fingerprints and a photograph). some applicants will be called for interviews. 4. passing the non-admissibility test if the applicant is admissible to another country, their application for leave will be rejected. the home office guidance confirms that admissibility must be “for purposes of permanent residence”. being able to enter another country for a short-term visit, for example, will not count as being admissible for the purposes of this application. admissibility is to any country, not only the presumed country of origin or former habitual residence. the home office guidance states, for example, that as part of the consideration of the application, caseworkers must consider any explanations provided by the applicant as to why they cannot seek entry for the purpose of residence to the state that their family member (for example, a spouse) is from. for applications made after 6 april 2019, applicants will not just need to show that they are not admissible to another country, but that they have “taken reasonable steps to facilitate admission to their country of former habitual residence or any other country but has been unable to secure the right of admission”. 5. submitting enough evidence paragraph 403 (d) of the rules states that an applicant must have “obtained and submitted all reasonably available evidence to enable the secretary of state to determine whether they are stateless”. according to the home office, therefore, the burden of proof rests with the applicant to show that they are stateless, although the home office guidance states that some allowances will be made: caseworkers must make a distinction between applicants who show no interest in genuinely co-operating or providing supporting information and those who may be unable to submit much evidence or information because, for example, they do not have the resources or knowledge to obtain information about the laws of a given state. in such circumstances, where the available information is lacking or inconclusive, the caseworker must assist the applicant by interviewing them, undertaking relevant research and, if necessary, making enquiries with the relevant authorities and organisations. arguably, the home office is wrong in stating that the burden of proof rests with the applicant to show that they are stateless. in the case of hoti v croatia, the european court of human rights criticised croatia for not proactively determining the applicant to be stateless, indicating that it is indeed a shared burden. the standard of proof is the “balance of probabilities”. that is, an applicant must show that it is more likely than not that they are stateless. the home office guidance provides a non-exhaustive list of evidence which can be provided: * testimony of the applicant (written application and/or oral evidence at interview) * responses from foreign authorities to an enquiry regarding nationality status of an individual * identity documents (for example, birth certificate, extract from civil register, national identity card, voter registration document), passports or other travel documents (including expired ones) * documents regarding applications to acquire, or obtain proof of, nationality * certificate of naturalisation or certificate of renunciation of nationality * previous responses by states to enquiries on the nationality of the applicant * marriage certificate, military service record/discharge certificate, school certificates, medical certificates/records (for example, attestations issued from hospital on birth, vaccination booklets etc) * identity and travel documents of parents, spouse and children, immigration documents, such as residence permits of their country or countries of habitual residence * other documents pertaining to countries of residence, for example, employment documents, property deeds, tenancy agreements, school records, baptismal certificates and record of sworn oral testimony of neighbours and community members 6. avoiding refusal on security grounds even if an applicant meets all of the requirements above, an application will be refused if there are reasonable grounds for considering that they are: (i) a danger to the security of the uk (ii) a danger to the public order of the uk or if their application would be refused under the grounds set out in paragraph 322 of the immigration rules applicants should familiarise themselves with paragraph 322, but grounds for refusal include having made false representations or submitted false information; failure to attend an interview when requested (this is particularly relevant for statelessness applications as applicants can be called for interviews); and litigation and nhs debts. 7. don’t forget the new requirements applicants applying after 6 april 2019 will need to show not only that they are stateless and not admissible to any other country, but that they have made every effort to acquire a nationality or right of admissibility to another country. in particular, they will need to show that they: * sought and failed to obtain or re-establish their nationality with the appropriate authorities of the relevant country; and * in the case of a child born in the uk, provided evidence that they have attempted to register their birth with the relevant authorities but have been refused. this is strikingly different from the position in nationality law, where a child is entitled to register as a british citizen after five years’ residence in the uk on the basis that they are stateless, independently of whether or not they could register to become a national of another country. other considerations when making an application statelessness applications are complex and should be well-prepared and evidenced. wherever possible, applicants should seek legal advice. cynthia orchard of asylum aid has written an excellent piece on securing legal aid for these applications. ebook oisc level 1: regulation and examination handbook a comprehensive and free guide to the oisc system of regulation and legal ethics aimed at oisc level 1 advisers, with top tips on examination technique. tells you everything you need to know about getting registered at oisc level 1. ebook view now legal advisers should bear in mind, for example, that an application will not automatically attract a right of appeal, but instead a right to administrative review. is there another application that the applicant can make, which will attract a right of appeal; or can the application be presented to make it clear that it is also a human right claim and therefore does attract a right of appeal? in addition, applicants should ensure that they have requested and reviewed any evidence or applications previously submitted to the home office by the applicant, and gotten their hands on the home office file. this is because it might contain useful information (for example if the home office already made a finding that the applicant is stateless) but may also contain damaging information which must be explained (for example if the applicant previously said that they were a citizen of country x). similarly to asylum claims, the home office will review all of the evidence submitted with the current and previous applications and will use any inconsistencies to refuse the applications. what leave is granted? at present, a successful applicant will be granted leave valid for 30 months, which is renewable. starting from 6 april 2019, successful applicants will instead be granted leave valid for five years. under current rules applicants are eligible for indefinite leave to remain after five years’ continuous lawful residence in the uk, where the latest leave is as a stateless person (but the whole five years do not necessarily need to be with leave as a stateless person, just the most recent leave). the changes to the rules however mean that, from 6 april 2019, applications will need to have had stateless leave for five years before being eligible for indefinite leave to remain. example doria had leave as the spouse of a british citizen valid from 2 march 2013 to 2 september 2015. on 15 august 2015, she applied for leave on the basis of statelessness, which was granted from 15 august 2016 to 15 february 2019. under current rules, doria could apply for indefinite leave to remain on 2 march 2018, on the five-year anniversary of her lawful residence in the uk, even though she was only granted leave on the basis of statelessness in august 2016. under the new rules, however, doria would need to wait until she has lived in the uk for five years with statlessness leave, that is until august 2021, to apply for indefinite leave to remain. successful applicants have the right to work and access public funds. they can also apply for a home office travel document. family members requirements for family members are set out at paragraph 410-413 of the immigration rules. in short, spouses, civil partners and children under 18 who are not leading independent lives can apply for leave to remain in line with the main applicant. family members can also apply for family reunion from abroad. this is not a recognition that they are themselves stateless, and it may be that some family members would benefit from making their own application on the basis of statelessness. this post has been revised and updated following helpful comments by cynthia orchard. we also recommend reading the best practice guide on statelessness applications produced by the university of liverpool law clinic, which is in the process of being updated. nath gbikpi nath gbikpi nath is an immigration solicitor and senior caseworker at islington law centre. she is also a co-convenor of the ilpa family and personal migration working group and a trustee of jcwi. she tweets: @nathgbikpi. tags: applications, immigration rules, key post, statelessness share there are comments on this article. only members can view and comment on articles, as well as many other benefits. explore membership now share tagsapplicationsimmigration ruleskey poststatelessness find similar resources & articles in hub asylum explore now get the best of free movement delivered weekly straight to your inbox explore a hub everything in one place human rights children deportation eu free movement see all hubs up next suicidal refugee loses date of birth appeal read now court of appeal rejects lowering threshold for denying refugee status to extremists read now briefing: new uk approach to refugees and safe third countries read now x not yet a member? get unlimited access to articles, a thriving forum, free e-books, online training materials with downloadable training certificates, and much more. find out more [scales.svg] worried about preparing an immigration application yourself? try our full representation service, provided by seraphus solicitors. join now benefits include * clear, transparent fees * fees fixed for each stage of your application or appeal * personal client web access page and messaging system * online payments, document upload & video calls * expert representation free movement logo * hubs * legal advice + do it yourself guides and ebooks + ask us anything video link + application checking service + full representation * members + forum + training courses + learn immigration law course (oisc l1) + my account * about + terms of service + privacy policy + cookie policy + comment policy * help updates, commentary, training and advice on immigration and asylum law disclaimer the information and commentary on this website is provided free of charge for information purposes only. the information and commentary does not, and is not intended to, amount to legal advice to any person. we try to make sure information is accurate at the date it is published. immigration law changes very rapidly, though. the older the blog post on this site, the more likely it is that there have been legal developments since it was published. © 2021 free movement. design by clear honest design shares refresh(600 sec): file://localhost/home/tim/projet-mot-sur-le-web/pages-aspirees/1-19.htm l * express news * urdu e-paper * english e-paper * sindhi e-paper * cricket pakistan * express live * campus guru * express entertainment * food tribune * * facebook * twitter * youtube ☰ tribune.com.pk * wednesday, 13 jan 2021 | * today's paper | * advertise covid-19 open app (button) home get app × * home + latest + analysis + politics + movies + health + style + advice * pakistan + islamabad + punjab o lahore o multan o rawalpindi o faisalabad o gujranwala + sindh o karachi o nawabshah o hyderabad o khairpur o sukkur o tharparkar + khyber pakhtunkhwa o peshawar o mardan o abbottabad o bannu o swat o dera ismail khan o charsadda o nowshera o mansehra o skardu + balochistan o quetta + azad jammu & kashmir o muzaffarabad o mirpur + gilgit baltistan o gilgit o skardu * business * sci-tech + games + gadgets + smartphone reviews * multimedia + slideshow + videos * world * opinion + editorial + letters + contributors + opinion * life & style + art and books + fashion + film + bollywood + food + gossip + music + theatre + tv * sports + cricket + football + tennis + motogp + hockey * cricket * t.edit * blogs + welcome to pakistan + the verdict + match point + the good life + media watchdog + the way i see it + the videoscope + poetic license + the big picture + submit blog * newslab * food * archive * other + about us + contact + submit blog + privacy + copyright + rss + events ☰ * home * pakistan * business * sci-tech * multimedia * world * opinion * life & style * sports * cricket * t.edit * blogs * newslab * food * archive * other * × the writer is a lawyer formerly practising and teaching law in lahore and currently based in singapore he holds an llm from new york university where he was a hauser global scholar he tweets hniaziii opinion the art of blackmail the writer is an international development professional based in islamabad opinion pakistan’s vaccination plan for covid-19 the writer is a howard hughes medical institute professor of biomedical engineering international health and medicine at boston university he tweets mhzaman opinion living through a coup hospital diversion what it means and why it happens opinion hospital diversion: what it means and why it happens * home * opinion * establishing strong and modern state establishing strong and modern state democracy in this country is not allowing state building __________________________________________________________________ dr muhammad ali ehsan october 24, 2020 the writer is a member of the faculty of contemporary studies at ndu islamabad the writer is a member of the faculty of contemporary studies at ndu islamabad __________________________________________________________________ in the ongoing season of political difficulties in our country even the talk of establishing a strong and modern state is like saying that congo, afghanistan, haiti or sierra leone in their current condition of statelessness can send an astronaut to the moon. i hold no grudge against these countries but in the real world in which we live these countries are bitter expressions of statelessness — something that we in pakistan don’t wish for ourselves. yet politics in this country never stops to invest in our statelessness. why? even if there was a central authority to prevent statelessness from happening our enemies are making sure that even this authority is made controversial and in a politically created, free-for-all environment the very centre of gravity of our oneness, statehood and nationhood is so much weakened that we don’t need an enemy to disintegrate and destroy us — we should do it ourselves. what a pity? can we allow this to happen? will we allow this to happen? what are our expectations? lack of political, economic, social and even ideological development in the previous governments’ tenure have prevented people to build ‘higher expectations’ and when the bar of expectations was erroneously raised by the incoming pti government, those who were reasonable understood that ‘sending astronauts to the moon’ in the timeframe that the pti government was promising was impossible. thus, for the pti to currently render political space to the opposition is a natural fallout of its unfulfilled political promises; and the political drubbing that it is getting is the drubbing it deserves but that does not mean that the government is inefficient, incompetent and doesn’t know its job. it only means that in its political appreciation it misread the ‘time and space’ and no matter how much hue and cry the opposition raises the pti government must continue to believe in napoleon’s famous dictum ‘space you can recover, time never’. it should not leave the political space uncontested and for every rabbit that the opposition pulls out from its hat it should keep its ‘tortoise ready to run the political race with it’. those in hurry make mistakes, and while time is not on the opposition’s side it is pretty much on the side of the government because it is a constitutional and legitimate representative, chosen by the people of pakistan. the pti government must execute a declared slowness of response and a ‘race winning speed’ of the tortoise. currently the opposition is forcing the government to react; and we know all reactions taken in hurry are never well thought-out. resultantly it is the government which despite standing on a higher moral pedestal is committing more mistakes. bottom line for the pti — run at full throttle to execute the process of accountability, ensure service delivery, reduce energy prices and carry out poverty elevation, but slow down on tit-for-tat political responses to the opposition. why? both the government and the opposition are unfortunately misreading the political growth in this country. despite their ‘democratic mandates’ both are out of touch with the ground reality. politics grew separately from the economy, society, science and industry in this country and while in the last decade or so, we experienced dysfunctions, shortfalls, disruptions and distortions in all the other sectors, the conduct of politics in this country remained functional and uninterrupted. what i am saying is that the birth of a new social class in this country is now a political reality. it is neither the working class nor the middle class; nor is it divided by religion, caste or ethnicity; it is not even represented as elite or non-elite. it is the ‘new social class’ born after learning what politics and democracy can and cannot give. had there not been a democratic continuity this class wouldn’t have been born. members of this new social class whether sitting in their drawing rooms, working in the offices, factories, studying in the universities or plowing the fields know and understand that governments fail not because the economy, society, industry or science fails — it fails because politics fails. they understand ‘their kind of politics’? they understand its out-datedness and backwardness. they also understand how ‘accidents of birth’ played an uncontested role and gifted them with these ‘unconstrained rulers’ who are difficult to constrain even when they are not in the government. the birth of this social class is benchmarked by few political realities. they are: marginalisation of the ppp, having been reduced to a regional party. who made them lose this political space — their own political conduct which was rightly read and translated in the huge loss of vote bank and its popularity? the pml-n is also looking down the barrel at a similar kind of fate. if ably prosecuted and rightly judged by the courts of law this party will witness a similar loss of vote bank by the time of next elections. no matter how much the political deck is shuffled the kings and queens of corruption remain part of the deck and in time will be witnessed by all and laid bare on the table. could the pti win the 2018 elections and make such inroads into these mainstream political parties vote bank if this new social class was not born? i don’t know in which language to write to make pm imran khan — ‘a leader with good intent’ that he and his party can only be defeated by their unthoughtful political reactions. all that imran khan needs to do is instruct his ministers to work more efficiently and diligently in their ministries and offices to make up for the lost time. as a policy ask them to spend this extra time in their offices rather than spending it on tv screens indulging in superfluous political debates. democracy in this country is not allowing state building. mainstream parties have still not learnt political lessons and continue to follow blindly political masters that are stuck ‘neck-deep’ in the mud of corruption. the ‘planters of unreformed, patronage-ridden and politically appointed bureaucracy’ have dealt a heavy blow to the state-building process in this country. what was witnessed in karachi and which was politicised to gain selfish political ends only states that ‘sub-nation building’ was preferred over nation-building and state-building. the political, ideological, social and economic dimension of development of our state is unfortunately proceeding on different federal and provincial tracks. for the federation and provinces to work in tandem, a strong government with two-thirds majority is needed at the centre. till this happens, our enemies will continue to exploit this political fault-line and the true journey of pakistan to become a strong and modern state will not begin. lastly, in the remaining three years the pti government must do everything it can to ensure relief to the poor; and provide the best and brightest prosecutors to bring the corruption cases to the logical ends. if this is achieved no matter how many rabbits the opposition pulls out of its political hat the ‘new social class’, the politically awakened and aware public will still not vote for ‘pocket fillers’ during elections in 2023. published in the express tribune, october 25^th, 2020. like opinion & editorial on facebook, follow @etoped on twitter to receive all updates on all our daily pieces. facebook conversations comments replying to x ____________________ ____________________ ______________________________ ______________________________ ______________________________ ______________________________ ______________________________ ______________________________ ______________________________ ______________________________ ______________________________ ______________________________ post comment saved ! your comment will be displayed after the approval. error ! error! invalid email. comments are moderated and generally will be posted if they are on-topic and not abusive. for more information, please see our comments faq [ins: :ins] covid-19 pakistan magazine most read * 1 hec’s new phd policy sparks concern in academic circles most read * 2 pakistan to develop its own messaging app: it minister most read * 3 pml-n leader hina butt claims she graduated from lums with 3.98 gpa most read * 4 is pti giving an nro to ipps? most read * 5 poultry farms close down due to ‘hefty losses’ most read * 6 pm rolls out ‘raast’ initiative to move to cashless economy most read * 7 indian woman accidentally suffocates lover to death while having sex most read * 8 military to ‘offer pdm chai-pani’ if they come to pindi most read * 9 five cryptocurrencies to consider investing in this year most read * 10 ‘good news' soon for markets about restarting imf program: sbp governor most read join us * facebook * twitter * instagram * pakistan * business * world * opinion * life & style * t.edit * sports * blog * videos * about us * online advertising * rss feeds * subscribe to the paper * contact us * careers * style guide * privacy policy * copyright * code of ethics * mobile app follow us * facebook * twitter * youtube * linkedin * instagram * tribune apple * tribune android this material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, redistributed or derived from. unless otherwise stated, all content is copyrighted © 2021 the express tribune. * express-pk * express e-paper * cricket pakistan * food tribune * campus guru * express entertainment * express-pk * express e-paper * cricket pakistan * food tribune * campus guru * express entertainment [p?c1=2&c2=6035250&cv=2.0&cj=1&cs_ucfr=0&comscorekw=refugees%2cmigratio n%2ceurope%2croma%2c+gypsies+and+travellers%2crace%2cworld+news%2cgerma ny%2csyria%2cmiddle+east+and+north+africa] international edition [ ] * international edition * uk edition * us edition * australian edition the guardian - back to home search jobs sign insearch [ ] * news * opinion * sport * culture * lifestyle showmoreshow more * [ ] news + coronavirus + world news + uk news + environment + science + global development + football + tech + business + obituaries * [ ] opinion + the guardian view + columnists + cartoons + opinion videos + letters * [ ] sport + football + cricket + rugby union + tennis + cycling + f1 + golf + us sports * [ ] culture + books + music + tv & radio + art & design + film + games + classical + stage * [ ] lifestyle + fashion + food + recipes + love & sex + health & fitness + home & garden + women + men + family + travel + money * make a contribution * subscribe * search jobs * holidays * digital archive * guardian puzzles app * the guardian app * video * podcasts * pictures * newsletters * today's paper * inside the guardian * the observer * guardian weekly * crosswords * search jobs * holidays * digital archive * guardian puzzles app * world * europe * us * americas * asia * australia * middle east * africa * inequality * global development refugees this article is more than 5 years old stateless in europe: 'we are no people with no nation' this article is more than 5 years old sanaa, who fled the war in syria, with her daughter, siba, in berlin [ ] sanaa, who fled the war in syria, with her daughter, siba, in berlin photograph: louise osborne sanaa, who fled the war in syria, with her daughter, siba, in berlin photograph: louise osborne stories of adults who have spent their whole life without citizenship highlight fate awaiting children of syrian refugees if their nationality is not resolved louise osborne and ruby russell in berlin and antakya sun 27 dec 2015 10.40 gmt [ ] last modified on sat 14 apr 2018 18.58 bst * * * sitting in the living room of her berlin apartment, sanaa* watches proudly as her one-year-old daughter clings to the edge of a coffee table and hauls herself to her feet. siba* squeals with delight, then drops back down with a giggle. being a single mother is hard work, but filled with daily rewards. sanaa, who fled the syrian war, is just thankful for the chance to raise a child. experts are warning that children such as siba could turn into a stateless generation. though the infant was born in berlin after her mother arrived from damascus, there is no automatic german citizenship. and under syrian law, a child can only inherit nationality from its father. as a single mother, sanaa was well aware that siba would be stateless. “there is no paper for siba in syria. because it’s the law, you don’t have any relations before you are married. people have boyfriends but it’s secret,” sanaa says. “we just grow up and this is the rule. we didn’t know that the women in other countries can give their nationality [to their children], or we didn’t care because we would get married and the child would have a nationality.” a man holds a young girl after arriving with other refugees at the greek island of lesbos a refugee holds a young girl after arriving at the greek island of lesbos after crossing the aegean sea from turkey. photograph: bulent kilic/afp/getty images now, conflict and displacement have left 25% of syrian refugee households fatherless, according to the un. most european countries, including germany, tie nationality to the “right of blood” and none automatically grants citizenship to all children born on their soil. although international treaties oblige states to ensure every child’s right to a nationality, european governments are failing to do so, or even to recognise that children are being born stateless at all. the un released a report this month calling for global action on child statelessness. “in the short time that children get to be children, statelessness can set in stone grave problems that will haunt them throughout their childhoods and sentence them to a life of discrimination, frustration and despair,” said the un high commissioner for refugees, antónio guterres. at least 10 million people globally do not have citizenship of any country, according to the un. without nationality, stateless people cannot vote and can find it difficult or impossible to gain access to healthcare, education and employment. the un estimates that there are 680,000 stateless people in europe, though experts say the figure is likely to be much higher. there are hundreds of thousands of russian-speaking minorities in latvia and estonia who became “non-citizens” following the fall of the soviet union. there are thousands of roma in italy and the balkans left stateless in large part due to the breakup of yugoslavia. the experiences of these long-term stateless people highlight the dismal fate that awaits syrian children if their legal nationality is not resolved. * * * beyond rome’s frenzied centre, the quiet outer suburb of monte mario is home to a “nomad camp” where many of the residents are stateless. there is an uneasy calm after the police shut down the camp’s weekly flea market. it’s a regular flashpoint in tense relations between roma residents and the municipality. roma began migrating to italy from the former yugoslavia in the 1980s when, following the death of dictator josip tito, a rise in yugoslav nationalism saw them become increasingly marginalised. the numbers of displaced roma moving to italy swelled again in the 90s during the bosnian war as europe faced another massive wave of displacement. we were born and grew up in italy. and what do we get? nothing davide like refugees the world over, many fled their homeland without papers. the documents they did carry identified them as citizens of a country (yugoslavia) that no longer existed. in italy, they settled in informal camps where they were segregated from mainstream italian society and often continued to live undocumented in a country that does not grant citizenship necessarily to people who were born there or live there. as a result they cannot legally work, graduate from school or open bank accounts, and access to healthcare is limited. “we were born and grew up in italy. and what do we get? nothing,” says davide, who was brought up in the monte mario camp. “not even papers. where are our rights? we have no rights. we are no people with no nation.” humica with her son dean and his wife and daughter. humica with her son dean and his wife and daughter. photograph: louise osborne humica was born in the former yugoslavia but has lived most of her life in italy. her two children and five grandchildren were born and raised in the monte mario camp. “i am italian in the sense that i was born here,” says humica’s son, dean. “but society doesn’t recognise us as italian and neither does the law,” his mother adds. without papers, dean cannot work legally. he makes a living doing removals and collecting scrap. but he does not have licences for these activities. and now, he says, the scrapyard has put up sign saying it will no longer do business with roma people. as for many stateless people around the world, the problem for the roma is both a legal failing and one of entrenched discrimination. “anti-roma racism is a really powerful force in europe,” says adam weiss, legal director of the european roma rights centre. “i think the most visible way in which the roma are excluded is refusal to recognise them as members of national communities.” being stateless and undocumented also reinforces this exclusion. lacking a proper education or the right to work forces many to look for employment outside the law, in turn fuelling accusations that the roma are a criminal minority who refuse to integrate. refugee crisis creates 'stateless generation' of children in limbo read more and the situation is not limited to italy. exclusion from bureaucratic processes means there are still large numbers of roma at risk of statelessness in the ex-yugoslav states, as well as in ukraine and bulgaria. * * * the 1954 un convention relating to the status of stateless persons was drawn up in the aftermath of the second world war when statelessness in europe was rife. most eu countries have ratified the convention, obliging them to offer the stateless basic rights and protection in much the same way as refugees. but while refugee rights are recognised internationally, with asylum procedures to determine who is entitled to such protection, only a handful of european countries have formal procedures to recognise the stateless. michel*, 35, was one of the first people to benefit from the uk’s statelessness determination procedure after it was introduced in 2013. an orphan, he was brought up in a madrasa – an islamic religious school – in ivory coast. his earliest memories are of begging on the street. at the age of 14 he was trafficked to senegal to work on a plantation. he escaped as a young man and a friend helped him reach europe. in the living room of his terraced house with views of the yorkshire moors, he explains that he did not know he was stateless until researching ways to prevent his deportation following the failure of his asylum claim. with no knowledge of where he was born, or who his parents were, michel realised he had no legal claim to ivorian nationality. a uk stateless travel document. a uk stateless travel document. photograph: handout michel’s first application to be recognised as stateless was rejected. after the liverpool law clinic (llc) stepped in to challenge the decision, he got his first id – a stateless travel document – in 2014, 15 years after first arriving in the uk. “my life has changed dramatically,” he says. “before i got my papers, all my thinking was very low. stress. it’s like i’ve been reborn. i can see coming just good things. i’m very happy.” michel now plans to study. but he is one of the lucky ones. sarah woodhouse, from the llc, says that as of spring this year, only about 20 of the approximately 700 people who had attempted the procedure since it was introduced had been recognised as stateless. rather than simply determining that a person is stateless and therefore has a right to protection, the procedure aims to identify any possible country to which the undocumented might be deported. “it’s not really a procedure for helping people who are stateless,” says pierre makhlouf, a lawyer with bail for immigration detainees. “it’s actually a procedure to identify those who cannot be removed. the rules look at both whether or not you have had status in any other country and been present in any other country, and expects you to establish that you won’t be accepted by another country.” gábor gyulai, an expert on statelessness with the hungarian helsinki committee and president of the european network on statelessness steering committee, says this additional criterion violates the 1954 statelessness convention. nonetheless, the uk’s acknowledgment of statelessness represented real progress. “certainly the uk procedure was a very important step,” says gyulai. “i remember a few years ago there seemed to be very little appetite to introduce such a procedure.” yet recognition of statelessness remains fraught with contradictions that are often kafkaesque. with very few exceptions, statelessness determination procedures put the burden of proof on applicants, who must show that they are not citizens of any country to which they have habitual or family ties. but few embassies will issue documents confirming that someone is not a citizen. the uk government even lists “current passport” among the documents sought to bolster a stateless application. and many such procedures are only open to people who are already legally resident – even though statelessness itself can be a barrier to residency. a roma woman walks with her children in a camp in rome. a roma woman walks with her children in a camp near rome. many roma people are unable to work legally because they are denied papers by the authorities. photograph: max rossi/reuters italy has one of europe’s oldest statelessness determination procedures. but nando sigona, a sociologist at birmingham university who has studied statelessness among italy’s roma for many years, says he has not heard of a single roma person being recognised through the country’s official administrative route. “it seems as if in the way the bureaucratic process has been designed they have some idea of the deserving stateless, and those like the roma don’t fit in and as a result cannot apply – the abject stateless,” sigona says. humica has been formally recognised as stateless by the italian authorities but only managed this through a complex and expensive judicial procedure. since she got her papers four years ago, she has had the legal right to work in italy. but she is still unemployed. “i wanted to be a normal person, to find a job, but things are just the same,” she says. “you’re not going to get a job if you live in the camp. have you ever seen a gypsy working alongside italians?” for humica, the biggest advantage of being recognised as stateless is that she no longer fears the immigration authorities. like many undocumented roma, she has spent time in immigration detention. ibrahim* is an undocumented migrant who was held in immigration detention for three-and-a-half years in the uk. having served six months of a 12-month prison sentence for using forged documents to work, ibrahim expected to walk free, but instead he was loaded into a g4s van and driven to dungavel house immigration removal centre in south lanarkshire. “when i arrived i saw the big walls. the barbed wire. i thought: this is prison again,” ibrahim recalls. but he was wrong. immigration detention turned out to be far worse. “in prison you count your days down. in immigration detention you count your days up and up. you don’t know when you will be released or deported.” in prison you count your days down. in immigration detention you count your days up and up ibrahim, undocumented migrant in uk born in guinea to a gambian mother and guinean father, ibrahim has lived in both countries but neither would recognise him as a citizen and issue the travel documents the british authorities needed to deport him. after two-and-a-half years, he was transferred to colnbrook, the high security detention facility next to heathrow. he had long since signed up for voluntary return but without a passport he was no closer to boarding a plane. detention action eventually found ibrahim a solicitor, who successfully brought his case against the home office for unlawful detention. ibrahim is now “free” but stuck in a limbo of another kind. he has no legal residency and yet is unable to leave the uk. not about to risk working illegally again, he fills his time volunteering as a cook and support worker for destitute refugees. his only hope is to prove that he is stateless. * * * latvia also has a statelessness determination procedure. but the country denies that its almost 260,000 non-citizens are stateless. when latvia became independent in 1990, only those who could trace their family’s presence on the territory to before soviet occupation in 1940 were granted citizenship. the rest – more than 730,000 people accounting for almost a third of the population – were defined as non-citizens. they were allowed to remain in latvia but without the right to vote. standing in front of the red and white stripes of the latvian flag, zoja saulite recites the latvian oath of allegiance. she reads from a crumpled piece of paper, stumbling over words in a language she has learned late in life. the 75-year-old grandmother smiles with relief as she finishes her declaration and sits down. after half a century living in latvia, zoja is now a latvian citizen. zoja saulite at naturalisation ceremony in daugavpils, latvia zoja saulite at her naturalisation ceremony in daugavpils, latvia. photograph: handout back at home in daugavpils, a city in the south-east of latvia, and speaking more comfortably in her mother tongue of russian, she explains why she decided to take the naturalisation test – a procedure she found arduous, having to repeat the language exam three times before passing. “i wanted everybody in the family to be a citizen,” she says. her children now live in the uk. without latvian (and therefore eu) citizenship, she would need a visa to visit them. about two-thirds of latvia’s former non-citizens have died or emigrated, or gained latvian nationality since the government lifted age restrictions on who could be naturalised in the 1990s. but approximately 12% of the latvian population remain stateless. although they now have most of the rights of latvian citizens, they cannot vote and are barred from working in the civil service and some other professions, such as pharmacy. latvian identity, as defined by the state, is strongly tied to the latvian language. but russian is the main language in many towns and cities across the country. for non-citizens, many of whom are now pensioners, learning a new language often feels like an impossible task. valentina pugachevska says she doesn’t speak latvian well enough to pass the test. she was born in belarus, but says latvia is where she belongs. it’s where the 60-year-old spent her working life, raised her children, and where she wants to grow old. but her lack of nationality is painful. “it’s not written on my face that i’m a non-citizen, but whenever i have to pull out documents, i am ashamed,” she says, displaying the page in her id where the word “alien” is printed next to her photo. valentina pugachevsk, belarus-born valentina pugachevska, whose latvian id document has ‘alien’ printed next to her photo. photograph: handout latvia does admit there is a problem with the non-citizen status, which was only ever meant as a temporary fix designed to limit soviet influence as the newly independent country found its feet. but over the past two decades, rather than helping to slowly “integrate” the non-citizen population, many people have been alienated by being forced to take a naturalisation test. sergei kruks was born to russian parents in latvia in 1968. during the struggle for independence he was a radio presenter and vocal in his support of the pro-independence latvian popular front. “we had many hopes for the future, but it ended abruptly in the first days of october [1991, when mps decided not to grant citizenship to those who came to latvia during the soviet occupation]. those i voted for decided not to grant people like me citizenship. it was a shock.” kruks says the experience has caused ongoing psychological and emotional trauma. the language exam would be a breeze for kruks but he refuses to be naturalised, seeing the process as an expression of the state’s refusal to accept russian speakers as an intrinsic part of latvian society. and it’s not just latvian non-citizens who would rather remain stateless than conform to an identity imposed on them by the state. antun blazevic is a stateless roma actor, playwright and poet who also goes by the stage name of toni zingaro – zingaro being the italian slang for roma, equivalent to “gypsy” and generally regarded as a derogatory term. for blazevic, it’s a badge of honour in the face of the common claim that roma people refuse to integrate into italian society. “the western world doesn’t want to integrate people,” blazevic says. “they want assimilation.” sergei kruks sergei kruks, who was born to russian parents, is among the 12% of the latvian population who are stateless. photograph: handout the western world doesn’t want to integrate people … they want assimilation antun blazevic, actor and writer blazevic – who was once arrested for occupying the colosseum in rome in protest at the death of a tunisian refugee in italian immigration detention – enjoys his statelessness as identifying him as everything and nothing. he has no plans to apply for italian citizenship, rejecting the very idea of the nation state that defines who is worthy of rights and who is excluded. “what would i want with an italian passport?’” he scoffs. “i am a citizen of the world!” * * * back in berlin, siba is too young to have thought about her national identity. sanaa says that in syria, being a single mother would be impossible because of the social stigma. what she wasn’t expecting was the heavy-handed questioning about the identity of her child’s father that she was subjected to by the german authorities. but she did not name him, for reasons she chooses not to reveal. sanaa and siba now have refugee status, and siba has a travel document identifying her as a syrian refugee, but the “syrian” designation has no legal basis. sanaa knows that siba will not have the right to live in syria unless a future government changes its nationality laws. in any case, she sees their future in germany. since the conflict erupted in syria nearly five years ago, her life has changed beyond recognition. when sanaa first arrived in germany she hated it. she found the people as cold as the weather and she felt alone, watching the destruction of her homeland from afar. she still misses damascus but has grown to love berlin. she is proud to be a single mother and happy her daughter will grow up in a society she sees as more free. this is home now. she has a wide circle of friends and siba’s first words are emerging in german as well as arabic. in a few years, sanaa plans to apply for german nationality, which siba would benefit from too. but she will have to meet various criteria, including being able to support her family financially. stateless campaigners argue that siba’s citizenship should be automatic and her mother should not have to tread carefully to ensure this right. refugees and migrants in a camp on the greek island of lesbos. refugees and migrants in a camp on the greek island of lesbos. photograph: bulent kilic/afp/getty images as the latest un report says, there are “straightforward legal and practical measures” that governments should put in place to prevent statelessness and “ensure that children’s very real connections to their countries are recognised through the grant of nationality”. compared with the legal complexity of recognising and granting rights to stateless adults, protecting children from being born stateless in europe should be a relatively achievable goal. while some countries have not ratified international treaties to protect the stateless, all eu member states have acceded to the un convention on the rights of the child, which obliges countries to grant nationality to children who would otherwise be born stateless. most countries go some way to enshrining these rights in domestic law. but conditions are often attached that are not in line with international treaties – meaning stateless children are only entitled to citizenship if, for example, their parents are legally resident in their country of birth. and in practice, the law is not often implemented. italy’s citizenship law automatically grants citizenship to stateless children born on its soil, but insists on at least one parent being formally recognised as stateless before the child’s birth. this ignores children who cannot inherit their parents’ nationality, and the many stateless roma parents who are completely undocumented. but while roma statelessness is deeply entwined with discrimination, europe is currently experiencing a rush of goodwill towards syrian refugees – and children in particular – which could inspire the kind of action on statelessness that has not been forthcoming for the roma or russian speakers of the baltics. “because of the general understanding that syrians are refugees, there is still a high level of solidarity throughout europe,” says gyulai. “these children are already extremely vulnerable and if they become stateless it will make their situation much worse – especially if there is no mechanism to officially perceive this statelessness and the rights attached to it. this is a test for the mechanisms to prevent statelessness and it’s a good opportunity for states to look at their practice and legislation.” while studies have shown that the risk of statelessness among the children of syrian refugees is widespread in turkey and lebanon, there has been no research into the scale of the problem in europe. moreover, the fact that children such as siba are currently in the asylum system means that their parents will often not realise that they are stateless. but this largely invisible issue could have long-term consequences for them. acting now to prevent these children of syrian refugees growing up stateless could head off the problems experienced by other stateless people in europe. an absence of paperwork might have seemed a minor problem in the midst of the geopolitical upheavals of two decades ago, but it has become a barrier to integration that is harder and harder to solve. meeting the immediate needs of refugees is one thing, but if governments fail to recognise the long-term impacts of statelessness, a new generation could grow up in limbo. * names have been changed this article was supported by a fellowship from the french-american foundation – united states. the views expressed are solely those of the author and do not reflect the views of the french-american foundation or its directors, employees or representatives. • this article was amended on 16 march 2016. an earlier version said two-thirds of lativia’s 730,000 non-citizens had gained nationality since the 1990s. many of that two-thirds died or emigrated while non-citizens. topics * refugees * migration * europe * roma, gypsies and travellers * race * germany * syria * news * * * * * * * * reuse this content * world * europe * us * americas * asia * australia * middle east * africa * inequality * global development * news * opinion * sport * culture * lifestyle iframe: https://www.theguardian.com/email/form/footer/today-uk * contact us * complaints & corrections * securedrop * work for us * privacy policy * cookie policy * terms & conditions * help * all topics * all writers * digital newspaper archive * facebook * youtube * instagram * linkedin * twitter * newsletters * advertise with us * search uk jobs back to top © 2021 guardian news & media limited or its affiliated companies. all rights reserved. (modern) #alternate alternate alternate [ ] menu the center for migration studies of new york (cms) - the center for migration studies of new york (cms) - the center for migration studies of new york (cms) - [ ] * about * cms initiatives + democratizing data + us and global refugee protection system + us catholic institutions and immigrant integration + us immigration reform initiative + covid-19 migration-related developments * publications + international migration review + journal on migration and human security + migration update + reports + essays + speeches + the lydio tomasi lecture + books + occasional papers + in defense of the alien * events * archive * multimedia * sign up ____________________ the center for migration studies of new york (cms) - the center for migration studies of new york (cms) - the center for migration studies of new york (cms) - * about * cms initiatives + democratizing data + us and global refugee protection system + us catholic institutions and immigrant integration + us immigration reform initiative + covid-19 migration-related developments * publications + international migration review + journal on migration and human security + migration update + reports + essays + speeches + the lydio tomasi lecture + books + occasional papers + in defense of the alien * events * archive * multimedia * sign up * donate * * * * * the stateless in the united states john corgan center for migration studies credit: rachel reyes / center for migration studies search our posts ____________________ content types * [ ] posts * [ ] reusable blocks * [ ] archives * [ ] research * [ ] people * [ ] conferences * [ ] publications + [ ] international migration review + [ ] journal on migration and human security * [ ] multimedia * [ ] events issues * [ ] asylum-seekers / refugees * [ ] children / minors * [ ] citizenship / naturalization * [ ] climate change / natural disasters * [ ] deportation * [ ] detention * [ ] development * [ ] education * [ ] enforcement * [ ] faith communities/faith-based organizations * [ ] family * [ ] forced migration * [ ] gender * [ ] governance * [ ] health * [ ] immigration policy * [ ] integration * [ ] internal displacement * [ ] irregular / unauthorized / undocumented migration * [ ] labor * [ ] law / legislation * [ ] legalization * [ ] pastoral work * [ ] population * [ ] resettlement * [ ] security * [ ] stateless * [ ] trafficking / smuggling * [ ] women * [ ] xenophobia * [ ] youth/young adults regions * [ ] africa * [ ] americas + [ ] caribbean + [ ] central america + [ ] north america o [ ] canada o [ ] mexico o [ ] united states + [ ] south america * [ ] asia * [ ] europe + [ ] italy + [ ] united kingdom * [ ] international * [ ] middle east * [ ] oceania search view more in 'cms news' the stateless in the united states the proposed border security, economic opportunity, and immigration modernization act (s. 744) includes provisions to regularize the status of stateless persons within the united states (s. 744, sec. 3405). these provisions follow a recent report from the un high commissioner for refugees (unhcr) and the open society justice initiative highlighting the precarious legal and socioeconomic status of stateless persons living within the united states. the report emphasizes that the united states lacks a consistent legal framework for dealing with stateless individuals, leaving many in protracted deportation proceedings and exposing many more to exploitation by employers, landlords and law enforcement officials (unhcr and open society justice initiative 2012). the stateless have no formally recognized nationality or citizenship. as a consequence, they cannot avail themselves of the legal and diplomatic protections of any country. they exist, in a sense, outside the formal realm of the nation-state. for this reason, unhcr—the international agency tasked with combatting statelessness—has referred to stateless persons as “legal ghosts” (unhcr 2011, 2). individuals can become stateless either by law (de jure) or by circumstance (de facto). one of the largest stateless groups in the world is the rohingya of myanmar. that nation’s laws do not count the mostly-muslim rohingya among the ethnicities eligible for citizenship and the rohingya are therefore de jure stateless (green and pierce 2009, 34). de facto statelessness can occur in a number of ways. the country in which an individual was born—such as yugoslavia—may cease to exist and a former citizen may not meet the citizenship or nationality requirements set by the successor state(s). de facto statelessness may also arise when an individual is unable to offer sufficient documentary evidence of his or her nationality. this is the primary concern with “doubly undocumented” mexican migrants in the united states, whose lack of legal status in the united states is further complicated by their lack of birth registration in mexico, on which consulates often rely to establish citizenship and to issue travel documents to deportees (cms 2012). reliable data on the number of stateless persons in the united states is lacking. unhcr notes that there are at least several hundred, but the real number could be far higher (unhcr 2012). representative lamar smith (r-tx), for example, claimed that between 2009 and 2011 the united states government released almost 10,000 deportees after their purported countries of origin refused to take them back (us house of representatives committee on the judiciary 2011). with no legal status in the united states and no country willing to grant them legal status, such people could be considered de facto stateless (price 2012, 26). mikhail sebastian is arguably the most famous stateless person in the united states. born in the former soviet union, sebastian sought asylum in the united states in the early 1990s, but was denied. the united states could not deport him because armenia—the successor state in whose territory sebastian was born—did not recognize his citizenship, leaving him stateless. after a four-day new year’s vacation to american samoa in 2012, sebastian was barred from reentering the mainland united states by immigration officials, who claimed he had self-deported. it took nearly 14 months for sebastian to gain permission to return to his home in los angeles and this occurred only after extensive interventions by lawyers, government officials, human rights advocates and university groups, as well as a social media campaign via twitter, tumblr, youtube and cnn ireport.[1] the 1954 convention on the status of stateless persons and the 1961 convention on the reduction of statelessness oblige signatory states to treat stateless persons the same as other resident aliens, particularly with regard to work authorization and the issuance of identity and travel documents. they also require states to confer nationality upon individuals born in their territory who would otherwise be stateless at birth and prohibit states from allowing citizens to renounce their nationality if doing so would render them stateless. because this last prohibition conflicts with the us legal tradition of voluntary renunciation of citizenship, the united states has not become a signatory of either convention, though us state department officials have asserted that this fact “does not in any respect undermine [the united states’] commitment” to combating statelessness (green and pierce 2012, 35). indeed, the united states does have legal protections in place to reduce the chance of its citizens and residents being rendered stateless. most notably, the principle of jus soli, enshrined in the fourteenth amendment, ensures that any child born in us territory is automatically a us citizen, even if the child’s parents are stateless. us law also recognizes the principle of jus sanguinis, ensuring that—with some exceptions—children born abroad to us citizens are also eligible for us citizenship. despite these protections, the united states nevertheless has a history of fostering statelessness. the 1857 dred scott decision, for example, denied that africans and their descendants even had the capacity to take on a nationality, condemning them, in the words of linda kerber, to “permanent statelessness” (kerber 2005, 733). in the nineteenth and twentieth centuries, the government routinely stripped women of their us citizenship if they married foreign husbands (kerber 2005, 735). more recently, in 2001 and 2011, the us supreme court upheld the immigration and nationality act’s provision of different rules by which us citizen men and women can pass on their citizenship to children born abroad, particularly when the parents are unmarried and one parent is not a us citizen or national (8 u.s.c. sec. 1409; tuan anh nguyen v. ins; flores-villar v. united states). these rules impose a higher burden of evidence and stricter deadlines on us citizen men looking to recognize their foreign-born children as citizens (8 u.s.c. sec. 1409) and because some countries do not recognize citizenship descent through the mother, such rules could easily render certain children stateless at birth if their fathers fail to meet the ina’s requirements (kerber 2005, 738-740). because the united states lacks a consistent legal framework for recognizing stateless persons and addressing their specific political and economic needs, stateless persons in deportation proceedings are typically treated the same as other non-us citizens, even though stateless persons have no country to which they can be deported. these deportation proceedings can lead to long periods of detention, though under two recent supreme court rulings—zadvydas v. davis in 2001 and clark v. martinez in 2005—stateless persons can no longer be held in detention indefinitely. as a result of these cases, after six months of detention, the burden shifts to the us government to prove that the removal of a non-citizen in deportation proceedings is possible in the reasonably foreseeable future (kerwin and yin 2009). this standard prevents stateless persons and other detainees from becoming “lifers”—that is, non-us citizens held indefinitely in detention facilities awaiting the unlikely or impossible prospect of deportation (kerwin 1998, 650; kerwin and lin 2009). stateless persons in removal proceedings are typically detained for ninety days, during which time a country of removal is assigned to them—even if there is no reasonable expectation that deportation will succeed (8 u.s.c. sec. 1231(a)(2)). after ninety days, a judge may order the detainee released under an order of supervision, which requires the individual to check in regularly with immigration officials and to continue to seek to obtain travel documents from different countries (8 cfr sec. 241.13(h))—an endeavor that is likely to prove futile (unhcr 2012, 20-21, 26). nonetheless, an order of supervision usually allows a stateless person to work legally in the united states, albeit after completing a yearly application and paying annual processing fees. in that respect, stateless individuals under orders of supervision are more fortunate than those without them. once a stateless person’s deportation case is dropped, he or she loses work authorization. he or she may remain in the united states, but lacks any formal legal status and has no right to work. the same situation applies to stateless individuals who have yet to come in contact with immigration officials—without legal status, they cannot be legally employed (unhcr 2012, 26-27). in recent years, government agencies and officials have taken some preliminary steps to address the issue of statelessness. the state department now includes statelessness as a subsection in its annual “country reports on human rights practices” and us diplomats have encouraged countries like vietnam to naturalize their resident stateless populations (green and price 2009, 34). the department has also utilized its official blog to draw attention to the plight of stateless persons around the world.[2] elected officials have recently shown interest in addressing statelessness as well. senator patrick leahy (d-vt) and three other senators co-sponsored the refugee protection act of 2013 (s. 645), which—among other reforms—would provide a pathway for de jure stateless persons to obtain lawful status in the united states (s. 645, sec. 17). the proposed border security, economic opportunity, and immigration modernization act (s. 744) closely mimics the provisions called for by the refugee protection act in relation to stateless persons, empowering the attorney general or the secretary of homeland security to provide conditional lawful status to stateless persons. this status would allow stateless persons to work in the united states and they could adjust to lawful permanent residence and later to citizenship (s. 744, sec. 3405). the lack of a viable legislative framework for dealing with statelessness sets the united states apart from other developed nations. spain and france, for example, issue residency permits to those deemed stateless (unhcr and asylum aid 2011, 69), while sweden—though not explicitly acknowledging statelessness—grants special status to foreigners in need of protection who are unable to return to their home country (kohn 2012). these measures are grounded in the 1954 and 1961 conventions against statelessness, as well as in the universal declaration of human rights, which declares that all individuals have the right to a nationality (udhr, article 15). in a world dominated by nation-states, a person’s nationality is the practical source of individual and collective rights and freedoms. for this reason, hannah arendt, chief justice earl warren and others have observed that without a nationality, a person has no “right to have rights” (blitz and sawyer 2011, 289; price 2012, 56). as unhcr and the open society justice initiative emphasize in their report, regularization of status is therefore crucial if the situation of stateless persons in the united states is to improve. with comprehensive immigration reform on the national agenda, the time may be ripe for the united states to address the status of stateless persons within its territory. __________________________________________________________________ [1] see https://twitter.com/mikhailbenoit, http://mikhailsebastian.tumblr.com/, http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_dol2qbnwfs, and http://ireport.cnn.com/docs/doc-748933. [2] http://blogs.state.gov/index.php/site/entry/statelessness/. references blitz, brad k., and caroline sawyer. 2011. “analysis: the practical and legal realities of statelessness in the european union.” in statelessness in the european union: displaced, undocumented, unwanted, edited by caroline sawyer and brad k. blitz, 281-305. london: cambridge university press. cms (center for migration studies). 2012. “the impact of birth registration within and across borders.” cms news, march 26. https://cmsny.org/birth-registration-across-borders/. us house of representatives committee on the judiciary. 2011. “chairman smith introduces keep our community safe act.” may 23. http://judiciary.house.gov/news/05232011.html. green, nicole, and todd pierce. 2009. “combatting statelessness: a government perspective.” forced migration review 32: 34-35. kerber, linda k. 2005. “toward a history of statelessness in america.” american quarterly 57(3): 727-49. kerwin, donald m. 1998. “throwing away the key: lifers in ins custody.” interpreter releases 75(18): 649-662. kerwin, donald m., and serena yi-ying lin. 2009. immigrant detention: can ice meet its legal imperatives and case management responsibilities? washington, dc: migration policy institute. https://www.migrationpolicy.org/sites/default/files/publicat ions/detentionreportsept1009.pdf. kohn, sebastian. 2012. “statelessness in sweden – changes ahead?” european network on statelessness. www.statelessness.eu/blog/statelessness-sweden-changes-ahead. price, polly j. 2012. “stateless in the united states: current reality and a future prediction.” vanderbilt journal of transnational law, forthcoming; emory legal studies research paper no. 12-229. http://ssrn.com/abstract=2154470. refugee protection act of 2011, s. 1202, 112th cong., 1st sess. 2011. https://www.congress.gov/bill/112th-congress/senate-bill/1202. universal declaration of human rights. 1948. http://www.un.org/en/documents/udhr/index.shtml#a15. unhcr (un high commissioner for refugees). 2011. helping the world’s stateless people. geneva, switzerland: unhcr. https://www.refworld.org/docid/4e55e7dd2.html. unhcr and asylum aid. 2011. mapping statelessness in the united kingdom. london: unhcr. accessed 21 may 2013. http://www.unhcr.org/refworld/docid/4ecb6a192.html. unhcr and open society justice initiative. 2012. citizens of nowhere: solutions for the stateless in the u.s. new york and washington, dc: open society justice initiative and unhcr. http://www.unhcr.org/refworld/docid/50c620f62.html. related publication publications statelessness in the united states: a study to estimate and profile the us stateless population statelessness in the united states: a study to estimate and profile the us stateless population date of publication: january 23, 2020 authors: donald kerwin, daniela alulema, michael nicholson, and robert warren statelessness in the united states: a study to estimate and profile the us stateless population this report describes a unique methodology to produce estimates and set forth the characteristics of us residents who are potentially stateless or potentially at risk of statelessness. it also lifts up the voices and challenges of stateless persons, and outlines steps to reduce statelessness and to safeguard the rights of stateless persons in the united states. as part of the study, cms developed extensive, well-documented profiles of non-us citizen residents who are potentially stateless or potentially at risk of statelessness. it then used these profiles to query american community survey data in order to develop provisional estimates and determine the characteristics of these populations. ... view publication more... categories: cms news policy analysis posts issues: stateless regions: americas north america united states keep in touch cms mailing lists * [ ] subscribe to the center for migration studies periodic updates and announcements on cms research, events, and publications. * [ ] subscribe to the journal on migration and human security periodic article announcements and other updates from the journal on migration and human security, cms's public policy publication. * [ ] subscribe to the cms migration update weekly digest of news and other information related to national and international migration for faith leaders and pastoral workers caring for migrants. ____________________ ____________________ sign up * donate * * * * * * about * cms initiatives + democratizing data + us and global refugee protection system + us catholic institutions and immigrant integration + us immigration reform initiative + covid-19 migration-related developments * publications + international migration review + journal on migration and human security + migration update + reports + essays + speeches + the fr. lydio f. tomasi, c.s. annual lecture on international migration + books + occasional papers + in defense of the alien * events * cms archive + about the archive + collections + from the cms archive + related collections * multimedia * sign up the center for migration studies of new york (cms) - the center for migration studies of new york (cms) - scalabrini migration study centers logo scalabrini migration study centers logo cms is a member of the scalabrini international migration network (simn), a global network of 270+ entities that provide services to migrants, including shelters and welcoming centers in receiving communities. cms is also a member of the scalabrini migration study centers, a network of think-tanks on international migration and refugee protection. copyright 2021 the center for migration studies (cms). all rights reserved. site designed and developed by social ink [+] iframe: https://www.googletagmanager.com/ns.html?id=gtm-bcr7g2q what we do how we work who we are voices (button) search (button) open navigation ____________________ (button) submit (button) close navigation * what we do * access to justice * citizenship * economic justice * international justice * corruption * criminal justice * civic space * discrimination and equality * rule of law * national security and counterterrorism * how we work * strategic litigation * legal advocacy * legal empowerment * collaborative partnership * who we are * learning opportunities * staff * jobs and internships * litigation * publications * voices * newsroom * contact subscribe for updates about our work ____________________ submit report citizens of nowhere: solutions for the stateless in the u.s. facebook twitter linkedin first page of pdf with filename: citizens-of-nowhere-solutions-for-the-stateless-in-the-us-20121213.pdf citizens of nowhere: solutions for the stateless in the u.s. download the 50-page report. 1.17 mb, pdf download date december 2012 quick links related work stateless persons are individuals who are without the recognition or protection of any country. without the protection of citizenship or nationality, stateless individuals are highly vulnerable to discrimination and abuse, and are often denied essential human rights by the state in which they live. the office of the u.n. high commissioner for refugees (unhcr) estimates that there are 12 million stateless persons globally, of which 3.5 million are in countries for which there are reliable statistics counting stateless individuals. an undetermined number of these individuals live in the united states—many without any lawful status, access to rights or protections. this report focuses primarily on the especially vulnerable population of stateless individuals residing in the united states who have no path to acquire lawful status or become naturalized u.s. citizens under the current law. the report provides an overview of statelessness in the global context, including its causes and often grave consequences to those individuals who are stateless, the international legal framework, and the role of unhcr. the report then discusses some of the key issues faced by this group of stateless individuals in the u.s. and concludes with recommendations of measures for the u.s. government to take to ensure that these individuals receive the rights and responsibilities that will enable them to participate as full members of society. related work press release justice initiative welcomes first un human rights committee ruling on the right to nationality for children the un human rights committee has found, in the case of zhao v. netherlands, that the netherlands violated the rights of a child, denny zhao, by assigning him the status of “unknown” nationality when his birth in the country was registered. january 08, 2021 advocacy update open society justice initiative joins statement of concern on assam registration crisis over 100 international and national civil society groups have signed a joint-letter calling for an international response to a india's troubled review of its national register of citizens in assam. september 05, 2019 voices saving newborn rohingya from a legal abyss the government of bangladesh has already promised to uphold its obligation to register newborn rohingya refugees. for the sake of international law—and the children’s future—it must stop dragging its feet. august 09, 2018 | natasha arnpriester a newborn baby wrapped in a red blanket get in touch contact us subscribe for updates about our work ____________________ submit * what we do * access to justice * citizenship * economic justice * international justice * corruption * criminal justice * civic space * discrimination and equality * rule of law * national security and counterterrorism * how we work * strategic litigation * legal advocacy * legal empowerment * collaborative partnership * who we are * learning opportunities * staff * jobs and internships * what we do * how we work * who we are * litigation * publications * voices * newsroom * contact visit the international justice monitor visit the international justice monitor © 2021 open society foundations, some rights reserved. terms and conditions privacy twitter #alternate [tr?id=157204581336210&ev=pageview&noscript=1] iframe: https://www.googletagmanager.com/ns.html?id=gtm-txhjh9t we use cookies to improve our service for you. you can find more information in our data protection declaration. more info ok 1. inhalt 2. navigation 3. weitere inhalte 4. metanavigation 5. suche 6. choose from 30 languages * albanian shqip * amharic አማርኛ * arabic العربية * bengali বাংলা * bosnian b/h/s * bulgarian български * chinese (simplified) 简 * chinese (traditional) 繁 * croatian hrvatski * dari دری * english english * french français * german deutsch * greek ελληνικά * hausa hausa * hindi हिन्दी * indonesian indonesia * kiswahili kiswahili * macedonian македонски * pashto پښتو * persian فارسی * polish polski * portuguese português do brasil * portuguese português para áfrica * romanian română * russian русский * serbian српски/srpski * spanish español * turkish türkçe * ukrainian українська * urdu اردو wrong language? change it here dw.com has chosen english as your language setting. dw.com in 30 languages dw akademie about dw dw.com deutsche welle deutsche welle ____________________ * top stories + germany o berlin wall + coronavirus + world o europe o africa # crime fighters # the 77 percent # africa on the move o asia o americas o middle east + business o founders valley o wo+men o my 2030 + science + environment o global ideas # doingyourbit o eco africa o living planet + culture o film o books o music o arts o digital culture o lifestyle o travel o bthvn2020 + sports special + 100 must-reads + 50 kitchens, one city + baking bread + dw freedom + expedition humboldt + gutenberg in the cyberstorm + meet the germans + planet berlin * media center + live tv + all media content + latest programs + podcasts * tv + schedule and reception + tv programs tv programs + arts.21 + arts and culture + business + check-in + close up + conflict zone + docfilm + dw news + eco africa + eco india + euromaxx + faith matters + focus on europe + global 3000 + in good shape + kick off! + made in germany + reporter + rev + shift + sports life + the day + the 77 percent + tomorrow today + to the point + world stories * radio * learn german german courses + german courses + quick start + harry + deutsch interaktiv + radio d + mission europe + deutsch - warum nicht? + audiotrainer + deutschtrainer + die bienenretter german xxl + german xxl + deutsch aktuell + deutsch im fokus + telenovela + bandtagebuch + landeskunde community d + community d + das porträt + podcasts & newsletter + service teaching german + teaching german + dw im unterricht + unterrichtsreihen + deutschlehrer-info * germany * coronavirus * world * business * science * environment * culture * sports top stories / world / asia advertisement asia why does asia have millions of stateless people? millions of people in asia are not citizens of any country, and they live without legal rights or protection. although modern conflicts shape the problem, statelessness is rooted in asia's colonial past. rohingya refugees at a camp in cox's bazar, bangladesh in india's northeastern assam state, almost 2 million people are struggling to have their citizenship recognized. after years of discussion and a highly controversial process, the state government published the national register of citizens (nrc) in august. the register lists officially recognized citizens out of the state's population of 31 million . those not on the list are considered to be "illegal migrants." any applicant unable to prove that they lived in the state before the march 24, 1971 deadline was considered to have "doubtful" status. the deadline refers to the day before the beginning of the bangladesh liberation war, when what was then east pakistan declared independence from west pakistan. as a result of the war, an estimated 10 million refugees from the newly formed people's republic of bangladesh fled to india. some of their descendants still live there. parallels between india and myanmar now many of assam's 2 million "non-citizens" may be deported or held in detention centers. india's minister of home affairs, amit shah, who visited assam on september 8, announced, "the bharatiya janata party government will pick up infiltrators one by one and throw them into the bay of bengal." anuradha sen mookerjee, an indian sociologist and former united nations staff member, writes in the conversation, a blog of various universities and research institutions: "it is very likely that the nrc process will cause great and long-lasting suffering associated with statelessness." read more: india citizenship lists: nearly 2 million face statelessness watch video 02:16 share india builds detention camps send facebook twitter reddit email facebook messenger web whatsapp web telegram linkedin permalink https://p.dw.com/p/3q6rl millions fear loss of citizenship in india's assam state the minister's rhetoric and mookerjee's warning are a reminder of what is happening to the rohingya people, who are officially called "bengalis" in myanmar to emphasize that the country considers them to be illegal immigrants from bangladesh. the rohingya are considered to be one of the most persecuted minority groups in the world, and they are de facto stateless. experts and the un agree that statelessness exacerbates their precarious situation. since 2017, the rohingya have been violently forced from their homes in myanmar's rakhine state in what the un has referred to as "ethnic cleansing." the situation of the rohingya and the threatened statelessness of almost 2 million people in assam are a consequence of the eventful history of asia in the 21st century and the restrictive civil rights in these countries. read more: rohingya people in myanmar: what you need to know the roots of statelessness before the arrival of european colonialists, the idea of a nation state with people living within clearly defined borders was unknown in asia. regional migrations were common, and there were fluid borders between the influential kingdoms and principalities. although europeans introduced the idea of the nation state, what are now independent asian countries were almost all part of european colonial empires. thus, india, pakistan, bangladesh and myanmar (until 1937) belonged to british colonial india. read more: 'i left my body there': a displaced rohingya woman's story there was migration within the british empire as well, which was not regarded as emigration or immigration because it took place within british india. in fact, the british promoted migration as an important element of their divide-and–rule policy, and as a source of labor for big colonial projects. for example, the development of the irrawaddy delta, which made burma (now myanmar) a leading rice exporter, resulted from resettling workers from british india. * bhasan char, which means floating island in bengali language, emerged less than 20 years ago in the bay of bengal. the island is located 30 kilometers (18.6 miles) away from mainland bangladesh. the government of the muslim-majority country plans to relocate some 100,000 rohingya refugees to this island from overcrowded cox's bazar refugee camps. inside bangladesh's isolated 'rohingya island' far from the mainland bhasan char, which means "floating island" in bengali language, emerged less than 20 years ago in the bay of bengal. the island is located 30 kilometers (18.6 miles) away from mainland bangladesh. the government of the muslim-majority country plans to relocate some 100,000 rohingya refugees to this island from overcrowded cox's bazar refugee camps. * there is no proper transport for the common people to go to the island. some people told dw that the roughness of the sea makes it difficult to reach the island on boats during the monsoon season. inside bangladesh's isolated 'rohingya island' no easy transportation there is no proper transport for the common people to go to the island. some people told dw that the roughness of the sea makes it difficult to reach the island on boats during the monsoon season. * the government has erected a 13-kilometer long and 3-meter high embankment to protect the island from high tide and floods. still, the outer part of the embankment goes 3 to 4 feet underwater twice a month during high tides, according to the island shopkeepers. inside bangladesh's isolated 'rohingya island' protected by embankment? the government has erected a 13-kilometer-long and 3-meter-high embankment to protect the island from high tides and floods. still, the outer part of the embankment goes 3 to 4 feet underwater twice a month during high tides, according to the island's shopkeepers. * the government has built 1,440 single-storey buildings, with 16 rooms in each, to house the rohingya refugees. at least four members of a family have to live in a small room. 120 four-storey shelter houses are also available, to be used during cyclones. inside bangladesh's isolated 'rohingya island' identical buildings the government has built 1,440 single-storey buildings, with 16 rooms in each, to house the rohingya refugees. at least four members of a family have to live in a small room. 120 four-storey shelter houses are also available, to be used during cyclones. * all buildings at bhasan char are equipped with solar panels to fulfil its energy demands. a big solar field and two diesel generators for electricity have also been installed. the island has a rainwater harvesting system as well as tube wells to provide drinking water. inside bangladesh's isolated 'rohingya island' solar power for energy all buildings at bhasan char are equipped with solar panels to fulfil their energy demands. a big solar field and two diesel generators for electricity have also been installed. the island has a rainwater harvesting system as well as tube wells to provide drinking water. * the silt island is called a floating island due to its unstable nature. satellite images detected the island in 2002. bangladeshi authorities have built a structure with pylons, gravel and sandbags to stop the erosion of the island. inside bangladesh's isolated 'rohingya island' protection from erosion the silt island is called a "floating island" due to its unstable nature. satellite images detected the island in 2002. bangladeshi authorities have built a structure with pylons, gravel and sandbags to stop the erosion of the island. * while some experts say the island is still very fragile and uninhabitable, climate change specialist ainun nishat is of the opinion that people can live here if the embankment is heightened to 6.5 to 7 meters. however, he doesn't think that farming is possible on the island. inside bangladesh's isolated 'rohingya island' is the island uninhabitable? while some experts say the island is still very fragile and uninhabitable, climate change specialist ainun nishat is of the opinion that people can live here if the embankment is heightened to 6.5 to 7 meters. however, he doesn't think that farming is possible on the island. * the refugees fear they could die as a result of cyclone if they are forcibly moved to the island. many of their children could drown in the seas, they say. inside bangladesh's isolated 'rohingya island' rohingya fear cyclone, drowning the refugees fear they could die as a result of a cyclone if they are forcibly moved to the island. many of their children could drown in the sea, they say. * while the island is almost ready to host rohingya refugees, the government has yet to make a decision on transferring them to it. several sources say the relocation could take place in november. the bangladeshi government has hinted it might have to force the refugees to go there if no one chooses to leave the cox's bazar's refugee settlements. inside bangladesh's isolated 'rohingya island' will rohingya move there? while the island is almost ready to host rohingya refugees, the government has yet to make a decision on transferring them to it. several sources say the relocation could take place in november. the bangladeshi government has hinted it might have to force the refugees to go there if no one chooses to leave the cox's bazar's refugee settlements. author: arafatul islam, naomi conrad problems with citizenship and naturalization laws after the end of the second world war, and with the independence of india and pakistan (east and west) in 1947, an period of migration began in asia. "the collapse of empires and the drawing of new borders produced countless refugees. they also produced a patchwork of minorities within the new borders," historian sunil s. amrith of harvard university said. exact figures are not available, but estimates suggest that 10 to 12 million people respectively emigrated to the other side after the partition of pakistan and india. arbitrary division of culturally and linguistically related regions throughout asia also created multi-ethnic and multi-religious states. read more: rohingya crisis demonstrates consequences of statelessness between 1945 and 1950, the new states had to adopt new citizenship laws in the shortest possible time, and they adopted the laws of the colonial powers. this raised problems. first, since independence, most asian states have a law of descent. accordingly, a state granted citizenship only to children whose parents (or at least one parent) were citizens of that state. this leads to very long periods of recognition especially when, as in the case of assam, the deadline lies in the past. secondly, none of the countries in question offers simplified naturalization. this means that refugees and stateless persons have no chance of changing their status for generations. legal scholar olivier vonk recently wrote in his study citizenship in asia: "asia is probably the only continent where citizenship is most jealously protected" as new nations want to secure their national identity. international law barely recognized today, the demands of a modern bureaucracy still collide with historical realities. many millions of people in south and southeast asia do not even have the documents necessary to prove citizenship. in colonial times and before that, there were often no birth certificates or these were lost as people fled. the poor and landless often find themselves stateless as land ownership remains the best way of proving this very practical dimension is discussed far too little in india and myanmar. read more: myanmar land ownership law could displace millions of farmers the current political climate in asia also contributes to millions of stateless people. still, india, bangladesh and myanmar have not signed any of the three un conventions on the protection of refugees or stateless persons. watch video 02:24 share rohingya repatriation attempt send facebook twitter reddit email facebook messenger web whatsapp web telegram linkedin permalink https://p.dw.com/p/3on5l renewed attempt to repatriate rohingya falters dw recommends myanmar's rohingya: a history of forced exoduses around 700,000 rohingya muslims have fled to bangladesh, escaping violence and persecution in their native myanmar. it's not the first time they have been forced from their homes. (09.09.2017) * date 26.09.2019 * author rodion ebbighausen * related subjects asia, rohingya, migration, refugees * keywords asia, statelessness, rohingya, migration, refugees * send us your feedback. * print print this page * permalink https://p.dw.com/p/3qgao advertisement facebook offizielles logo dw news on facebook 11.07.2017 twitter offizielles logo follow @dwnews on twitter 11.07.2017 * top stories * germany * coronavirus * world * business * science * environment * culture * sports * * a - z index * media center * live tv * all media content * latest programs * podcasts * tv * schedule and reception * tv programs * * radio * learn german * german courses * german xxl * community d * teaching german * about dw * who we are * press * gmf * business & sales * advertising * travel * service * reception * apps & co. * newsletters & co. * faq * contact * * dw akademie * about us * media development * master's degree * traineeship * training © 2021 deutsche welle | privacy policy | legal notice | contact | mobile version skip to main content search _______________ submit * + + + the mantle main navigation * arts & culture * international affairs * literature * philosophy * publishing * about statelessness: what hannah arendt can still teach us by max regus once stateless herself, arendt still informs our discussions today. border crossings hannah arendt graffiti - arendt was once stateless the mantle the independent recently reported a large demonstration of around 160,000 protesters in barcelona, spain. the protesters were demanding the government accept more refugees. the country, as of now, has just permitted 1,100 refugees. the article said that in september 2015, spain’s government pledged to bring 17,337 refugees in within two years; 15,888 from camps in italy and greece, and 1,449 from turkey and lybia. this protest, among many others around the world, is evidence that the wave of refugees is still a critical international human rights issue. part of our discussion of refugees stems from hannah arendt’s concept of statelessness. a current analysis of this concept comes from jeremy adelman’s article titled pariah: can hannah arendt help us rethink our global refugee crisis? his article highlights that we are now experiencing the highest number of refugees globally since the second world war. arendt’s concept of statelessness is used as a framework for presenting the current situation of refugees on the one hand, and providing a criticism of international human rights on the other. the effectiveness of international human rights has been questioned under this massive wave of refugees in our world today. the international human rights community has been limited in developing a framework for protecting refugees, but i believe we can challenge them to reconsider how they respond to the presence of these people. the fate of the stateless statelessness is when a person is not recognized, or is disregarded, as a citizen under the laws of their state. it can occur due to a variety of reasons, which differ from one country to another, and from one political community to another. and unfortunately, the existence of stateless persons is a common reality of our current era. indonesia presents an example based on the contemporary status of the ahmadiyya islam minority (the ahmadis) in the country. the ahmadis in west nusa tenggara province, indonesia, are an example of the unhcr’s definition of refugees. they are being discriminated against, violated, and isolated by their fellow citizens. other groups (radicals)—after burning their properties—forced the ahmadis to leave their village and flee to another place before getting what is called a "transito place" provided by local government. in september 2002, the ahmadis in pancor, east lombok, indonesia were attacked by another radical islamic group. approximately 300 ahmadis were living in this village. in june 2003, about 35 ahmadiyya families were expelled from sambi elen village. again, in february 2006, attacks were happening in the ketapang gegerung lingsar village, west lombok. currently, at least 30 families comprising 118 ahmadis are living in transito place, mataram, west nusa tenggara. the district of social affairs department said that the west nusa tenggara province stopped providing basic needs assistance such as food, medicine, and clothing in 2008 to the refugees. syahidin, a coordinator of the ahmadis refugees to the refugees at the transito place, in a discussion we had in december 2016, explained that they have been struggling to get justice from the government since 2006. the emerging situation of stateless persons may also happen in the case when governments change their laws. in the indonesian case, for example, in dealing with violence they have experience in east lombok, the west nusa tenggara province, the local government had issued a decree on september 13, 2002 to ban the ahmadiyya. the problem became more serious when the indonesian central government also signed a special 2008 decree banning the activities of the ahmadis. this situation can be an intentionally domestic political step to exclude and marginalize the members of certain minority groups causing them to ultimately become stateless. another serious and critical reason is also referred to the integration of new state formation which often lacks the political consistency to protect its minority citizens. new states, with their government actors and institutions, may intentionally or unintentionally leave thousands of people stateless. within the brutality of world war ii, the need to create a protected status for refugees became ever more crucial. john hope simpson, a british liberal politician who served as a member of parliament in the united kingdom, declared in his book the refugee problem that refugees are basically defined as stateless in all their conditions. his book influenced further discussion of refugees. the situation of refugees was raised and discussed during the 1951 convention. at that time, the special protocol related to the status of refugee people was attached to the convention draft. "the refugee protocol" was related to citizenship status. in addition, although the complete draft of the protocol was postponed at that time, the concept of statelessness was still adopted into the 1954 and 1961 international convention. to that end, the united nations refugee agency (unhcr) has been entrusted with certain responsibilities with regard to the citizenship. even though the organization has devoted time, resources, and effort to the assistance of the stateless people, they still need to bring strong institutional improvement in challenging a high escalation of refugees today. united nations member states have tried to establish a special mechanism for the protection of “internally displaced persons” (idps) and “stateless persons.” conceptually, idps are persons or groups who leave their home or residence based on many kinds of attacks, discrimination, injustice, human rights violations. in this situation, they have not crossed an internationally recognized state border. in addition, in the case of children, if they are born to stateless persons or refugees, in some cases out of wedlock, they may be denied citizenship. some individuals may find themselves stateless because of the practice of discriminatory administrative policies. in many specific cases, such as sepulveda et. al, minorities are also considered “non-citizens” and “stateless persons.” a global resistance hannah arendt is considered one the most important modern thinkers. she spent her entire life critically discussing statelessness as a core concern of human rights and international politics. besides the human condition, where she provides a useful debate on human rights, her book the origins of totalitarianism, is a fundamental reference in human rights discourse. moreover, origins is as deeply concerned with the stateless explained as "unrespectable" and "the unwanted group," as the rest of us—the shocked onlookers at the horrible things that our governments do to their own people. arendt’s brilliant view in this book can be seen as a valuable foundation as we work to understand statelessness in our world. the origins of totalitarianism is more than just her intellectual writing. it is also a personal struggle to give voice to the increasing number of refugees in our current time. we can say that arendt has taken a strong resistance to the presence and performance of the global dehumanizers’ platform through the existence of refugees. the exploration of arendt’s concept of statelessness is mainly found in chapter nine of origins. through this chapter, arendt offers updated criticism on the modern conception of human rights. she links the argument to the failure of our modern states in implementing normative principles of international human rights. international human rights—according to her—fail to protect “brutalized citizens.” statelessness is closely associated with “the loss of a range of international treaties and national commitments” aimed to protect stateless minorities from becoming victims of massive attacks. her concept has inspired a human rights movement in recent decades. arendt reflects on statelessness based on her tragic experience as a refugee. she was born in 1906 in hannover to an assimilated jewish family, but was forced to leave germany in 1933 after being arrested for researching documentation on the exclusion of jews from major professional organizations. crossing the border to czechoslovakia, and then to paris, arendt proceeded to work with jewish organizations that were helping to settle children in palestine. she experienced life as jewish refugee when she moved to the united states in 1940 with her second husband, heinrich bluecher. both later became american citizens. arendt’s experience was similar to so many other refugees who have been expelled from their countries surrounding the world wars. her personal experience can be seen as a parable of our century: persecution, statelessness, exile, a brief internment in a detention camp, immigration. in this horrific event, europe faced a wave of refugees. linda k. kerber, who served as president of the american historical association in 2006, states: when hannah arendt, who herself was stateless for more than a decade, wrote memorably about statelessness a half-century ago, it was technically a legal term of art, describing ‘a person who is not considered as a national by any state.’ it is helpful to revisit arendt through her concept of statelessness in the shadow of a massive expulsion of minority groups and the global wave of refugees. judith butler, professor of comparative literature and rhetoric at the university of california, berkeley, agrees that this concept inspires scholars and human rights defenders to reflect “a discriminatory situation” to displaced people that are already excluded by their own government (state) based on many different reasons. after the war, it turned out that the jewish question, which was considered the only insoluble one, was indeed solved-namely, by means of a colonized and then conquered territory but this solved neither the problem of the minorities nor the stateless. on the contrary, like virtually all other events of the twentieth century, the solution of the jewish question merely produced a new category of refugees, the arabs, thereby increasing the number of the stateless and rightless by another 700,000 to 800,000 people. and what happened in palestine within the smallest territory and in terms of hundreds of thousands was then repeated in india on a large scale involving many millions of people. since the peace treaties of 1919 and 1920, the refugees and the stateless have attached themselves like a curse to all the newly established states on earth which were created in the image of the nation-state. the above description shows that statelessness is absolutely not just a “jewish problem” as it was once believed to be in the past, but a recurring 20th century predicament of the nation-state. butler also reminds us, “what happened to the jewish people under hitler’s regime should not be seen as exceptional but as exemplary of a certain way of managing minority populations; hence, the reduction of ‘german jews to a non-recognized minority in germany’, the subsequent expulsions of the jews as ‘stateless people across the borders’, and the gathering of them ‘back from everywhere in order to ship them to extermination camps was an eloquent demonstration to the rest of the world how really to ‘liquidate’ all problems concerning minorities and the stateless.” statelessness can be applied and used as an analytical framework for looking at at the fate of victimized minority groups who are trapped in the destruction of their humanity around the world. this can be seen from the report of antonietta pagano (2016) at the daily experience of the rohingya refugees in myanmar who are living as displaced persons. responding to a new challenge one difficult challenge is to provide a comprehensive mapping of stateless people. an international community and nation states have to build their understanding and awareness on “quantifying statelessness” as a “shared responsibility.” in this perspective, states should handle the first and the primary responsibility to identify and count stateless persons in order to manifest the international obligations towards these individuals (populations)—in accordance with international human rights under the 1975 un convention on the reduction of statelessness. to fulfill its statelessness mandate, as previously explained, un bodies such as the unhcr are required and tasked with sharing current information on various aspects of statelessness. all these duties should be supported by ngos and academia in identifying and quantifying the situations of stateless people. elizabeth g. ferris analyzed the problem in her book the politics of protection: the limits of humanitarian intervention. she summarizes that all international and national institutions have to give a decisive concern to consider statelessness as complicated and challenging task in executing the international human rights principles and commitment. by now, with increasing numbers of stateless people around the world and the implications this may have for national and regional securities, the international community is revisiting international instruments that deal with many issues relating to nationality and citizenship. these changes include the integration of several states, the rise of ethnic consciousness in many parts of the world, and the fear of large-scale population movements involving refugees. ultimately, however, the problem of statelessness and disputed nationality can only be effectively addressed and solved by states themselves. arendt’s concept of statelessness has been reinterpreted through similar situations when the concept received wider academic enthusiasm and human rights movement. this is a big hope that this concept can revitalize a global awareness in providing a “protection scheme” of refugees worldwide. in addition, the challenge in analyzing this fact is a new contest of statelessness. ben reynolds of the diplomat notes that international law cannot fix statelessness, as it is created continuously by the international order. if you liked this article, please consider becoming a patron and contributing to the work we do here at the mantle. share on refugees, stateless, philosophy mantle image argus morales because of an iranian accountant the rohingya find no refuge in prime minister modi's india choosing between shadows: part ii sign up for occasional updates from the mantle. email address _________________________ subscribe latest posts merleau-ponty -isms on phenomenology, merleau-ponty, and good, hard,… birth control pills reportage accessing reproductive healthcare in a pandemic black panther film 'black panther' displays a utopia seeking… tweets by @themantle footer menu * about the mantle * become a patron * write for us * + + + © the mantle | website by webdrips back to top #publisher alternate alternate alternate (button) discover thomson reuters directory of siteslogincontactsupport for-phone-onlyfor-tablet-portrait-upfor-tablet-landscape-upfor-desktop- upfor-wide-desktop-up apac updated uzbekistan ends plight of thousands of stateless people with landmark law by emma batha 3 min read (button) (button) london (thomson reuters foundation) - uzbekistan is to allow tens of thousands of stateless people to become citizens under a new law hailed by the united nations, which urged other countries to follow suit in ending the plight of some of the world’s most invisible people. “this is a huge development and we hope it will set a precedent for other countries,” shabia mantoo, a spokewoman for the u.n. refugee agency (unhcr) said on thursday. the central asian country has more than 97,000 stateless people - one of the largest stateless populations in the world. globally, an estimated 10 to 15 million people are not recognised as nationals of any country. many are deprived of basic rights such as education and healthcare, and are at risk of exploitation and detention. in central asia, hundreds of thousands of people fell through the cracks after the break-up of the soviet union in the 1990s when they could not acquire nationality from any successor states. the new law in uzbekistan, which came into effect this month, will enable an estimated 50,000 people to acquire citizenship. many others are expected to benefit when simplified naturalisation procedures are introduced in september. the unhcr launched an ambitious campaign called #ibelong in 2014 to end statelessness in a decade. hollywood star cate blanchett threw her weight behind the drive last year. experts on statelessness say xenophobia and populism are complicating efforts to meet the 2024 deadline, and there has been little progress on finding solutions for big stateless populations like the rohingya in myanmar and bangladesh. but mantoo told the thomson reuters foundation that many countries in central asia were making “tremendous progress”. kyrgyzstan made history last year when it became the first country in the world to end statelessness. in tajikistan, an amnesty introduced this year will allow thousands of stateless people to obtain residence permits, providing a potential route to citizenship in three years. u.n. officials believe turkmenistan and kazakhstan could also meet the 2024 deadline. stateless people often say they feel heavily stigmatised and forgotten. even buying a sim card, getting a driving licence, opening a bank account or getting married can be impossible. mantoo said acquiring a nationality was “a life-changing experience” for a stateless person. “it affects everything from their legal status to their physical and emotional wellbeing. it’s something so important to the human condition - the right to belong and feel included.” reporting by emma batha @emmabatha; editing by katy migiro. please credit the thomson reuters foundation, the charitable arm of thomson reuters, which covers the lives of people around the world who struggle to live freely or fairly. visit news.trust.org our standards: the thomson reuters trust principles. * apps * newsletters * advertise with us * advertising guidelines * cookies * terms of use * privacy * do not sell my personal information (button) (button) all quotes delayed a minimum of 15 minutes. see here for a complete list of exchanges and delays. © 0 reuters. all rights reserved. for-phone-onlyfor-tablet-portrait-upfor-tablet-landscape-upfor-desktop- upfor-wide-desktop-up canadian centre on statelessness ____________________ * about + about us + vision and mission + annual reports + get involved + contact us * statelessness + what is statelessness? + who is stateless? + international principles + who is stateless in canada? + categories and legislation + canada + lost canadians + legal options * advocacy + publications + events > o summit 2016 * research & publications + research reports + links to other works + publications * resources * donate * about + about us + vision and mission + annual reports + get involved + contact us * statelessness + what is statelessness? + who is stateless? + international principles + who is stateless in canada? + categories and legislation + canada + lost canadians + legal options * advocacy + publications + events > o summit 2016 * research & publications + research reports + links to other works + publications * resources * donate search by typing & pressing enter your cart who is affected by statelessness? millions of people around the world are without a nationality. these are women, men, children, entire families, ethnic groups, and statelessness can happen at birth, or well into old age. because citizenship is based on country nationality law, and laws change, people can think and feel that they are citizens of a particular place their entire lives, only to be surprised when attempting to obtain an identity document, access a government service, or travel.  there are several ways statelessness can occur: state succession unions of countries or individual countries break apart, and the country where one reside's creates new nationality laws and suddenly does not recognize a person because of her lineage, ethnicity, or perceived allegiance to other countries. soviet union the dissolution of the soviet union in 1991 resulted in thousands of cases of statelessness in the baltic states and in eastern europe. the unhcr reports that several countries were affected, resulting in at least 680,000 people in europe alone living without a nationality. these include "people with expired soviet passports who have not been able to acquire the nationality of the state in which they reside since the break-up of the soviet union" (unhcr, statelessness in central asia). yugoslavia a similar chain of events occurred after the dissolution of yugoslavia in 1992. the unhcr reports that "in the countries that once made up yugoslavia, groups of people fell between the cracks created by new nationality laws and became stateless. though many have managed to establish their nationality, members of minority groups in south-eastern europe, especially the roma, continue to face difficulties accessing the documents necessary to confirm nationality. throughout europe, gaps in nationality legislation continue to create situations of statelessness" (unhcr, report on statelessness in south eastern europe). country and ethnic group summaries can be accessed on the region pages of the international observatory on statelessness. disputed territory parents who have a child in a disputed territory are often unable to register the birth of their child, and the child remains without a nationality, stateless. this can happen because government is no longer functioning. palestinians the most widely known example of this type of statelessness is the case of the palestinians. according to the canadian council for refugees "palestinians represent the largest stateless community in the world: more than half of the eight million or so palestinians are considered to be de jure [emphasis added] stateless persons" (ccr, statelessness). for more information on palestinian statelessness, see: ​ united nations and relief works agency, http://www.unrwa.org/ abbas shiblak, 2006, stateless palestinians women statelessness overwhelmingly affects women. victims of trafficking often have their travel documents taken from them, leaving them unable to prove their identities. many women find themselves victims of gender-based-violence and exploited into global trafficking rings, where they are often alone, prone to abuse and with little societal or legal support. for information on statelessness and trafficking, see: pascale mclean, 2011, incomplete citizenship, statelessness and human trafficking: a preliminary analysis of the current situation in west bengal, india vital voices, 2007, stateless and vulnerable to human trafficking in thailand united states department of state, 2009, trafficking in persons report alice edwards, 2009, displacement, statelessness and questions of gender equality and the convention on the elimination of all forms of discrimination against women nationality law is often discriminatory along gender lines, leaving women unable to either retain their citizenship upon marriage to a foreigner, or unable to acquire the citizenship of their husband's country. many women find themselves without a nationality after marriage, and are sometimes refused access to services in both the country of their birth, and their husband's home country. for information on statelessness and marriage, see: radha govil and alice edwards, 2014, "women, nationality and statelessness: the problem of unequal rights". edited by alice edwards and laura van waas, nationality and statelessness under international law zahra albarazi and laura van waas, 2014, towards the abolition of gender discrimination in nationality laws a summary of gender discrimination and statelessness prepared by the women's refugee commission can be seen here. iframe: //www.youtube.com/embed/1bisrn8i15s?wmode=opaque children children are affected by statelessness in several ways. nationality laws that dictate citizenship rules for their parents affect children. the result is that children are born limited in the services they can access, the education they will receive, and the healthcare available to them. this carries on through adulthood and affects housing, employment and virtually all aspects of their lives. growing up without a nationality impacts the way children engage with society, and can have adverse effects on child development and family reunification. for more information see: gerard-rene de groot, 2014, "children, their right to a nationality and child statelessness". edited by alice edwards and laura van waas, nationality and statelessness under international law an emerging concern is the practice of international surrogacy and the effects on children. legal challenges are increasing as children are born in one country and adopted in another. for more information see: debra wilson, 2014, stranded and stateless: international surrogacy's legal nightmare jyothi kanics, 2014, preventing and addressing stateless in the context of international surrogacy arrangements ethnic groups minority ethnic groups are particularly vulnerable to statelessness, often discriminated against as a result of nationality legislation. in addition many minority ethnic groups around the world struggle to obtain identity documents or prove their identities. some examples are the roma of europe, rohingya of myanmar, ethnic nepali bhutanese of nepal, and haitian descendants in dominican republic. country and ethnic group summaries can be accessed on the region pages of the international observatory on statelessness. personal accounts of living without a nationality can be seen by visiting unhcr's #ibelong campaign. about us contact us paypal - the safer, easier way to pay online! picture ​canadian centre on statelessness 2020 __________________________________________________________________ #international observatory of human rights » feed international observatory of human rights » comments feed alternate alternate iframe: https://www.googletagmanager.com/ns.html?id=gtm-pghsmgj click here to complete our survey about human rights after brexit iohr logo iohr logo * home * about us * iohr tv + covid-19 and our human rights + bayt uk + #bearefugeesponsor + #bringukchildrenhome + #notbornaradical + freedom of expression + global advocacy conferences + ngo focus + short films + social justice + spotlight on statelessness + stories powered by thompson reuters foundation + violation of international law + women’s rights * research + counter-extremism + press freedom + syria + yemen * observatory hub + campaigns + events + get involved + press releases * news * blog search for: ____________________ (button) search * home * > * blog * > * 30 years of statelessness in the former soviet union 30 years of statelessness in the former soviet union 13 september 2019 by sofia svensson share this almost three decades have passed since the formal dissolution of the soviet union and the subsequent proclamation of independence by fifteen states. soviet nationality ceased to exist and most former soviet republics adopted their own nationality laws yet the collapse of the ussr is one of the events in recent history that has resulted in mass statelessness. in ukraine around 35,000 people were left stateless (or at risk of statelessness) and almost double this number were left stateless or at risk of statelessness in russia. because former soviet states took different approaches to the gain or loss of citizenship, and because of multiple defects and contradictions in the laws of these states, certain individuals and entire groups of people who never exchanged their soviet passports for the passports of a newly formed state for one reason or another became vulnerable and, ultimately, stateless. who are stateless in the former soviet union? the most vulnerable people in terms of statelessness in former soviet countries are members of ethnic minorities. for example, the majority of lezgians living in dense communities in areas of azerbaijan bordering dagestan were not able to exchange their soviet passports in time (by 2005). this made it impossible for them to receive foreign passports or communicate with relatives living on the other side of the border in dagestan. many issues stem from the old soviet passports which were deemed valid for different lengths of time in the various new states once they gained independence. in azerbaijan, it was possible to exchange it until 2005 for example. in ukraine, the deadline was initially set to 1 july 2002 and then until 1 september 2002, 1 december 2004 and, finally, 1 january 2005. but far from all residents of ukraine, like in other former soviet states, exchanged their passports before the deadline. this was often due to lack of knowledge about the process of exchanging passports and the consequences of living with an invalid former soviet passport, the lack of desire to exchange a passport for ideological reasons, among other things. thus, people who did not exchange their soviet passports prior to the date established by law found themselves without a valid identity document and with nothing to confirm citizenship. a report by cf “the right to protection” and adc memorial provides accounts of those affected, for instance that of anna lakatosh and aladar forkosh. born in ukraine, they are from a roma family currently living undocumented in the russian federation. following their detention pending administrative removal for not having identification documents, they took their case to the european court of human rights in 2010 (lakatosh and others v. russia). assisted by adc memorial they won the case. yet almost 10 years later they remain stateless and without documents. how many are stateless? according to published data, the number of stateless people in russia is falling, but is still high: the 2010 russian census reports that there were over 178,000 stateless persons in the country, while data from unhcr shows that there were 113,474 stateless persons in 2014,14 82,148 in 2017, and 75,679 as of early 2019. there is no doubt that the actual number of stateless persons in russia is much higher. according to assessments made by the unhcr on the basis of official data, in 2017 35,294 people who were stateless or at risk of statelessness were living in ukraine,10 while a 2017 report from the osce states that only 78 per cent of residents of ukraine have identity documents. it is worth noting that from 2014, the number of persons at risk of statelessness has increased significantly due to the military conflict between russia and ukraine. in the eastern parts of ukraine which has been seized by pro-russian armed groups, 57% of all new-borns in the last five years have not received a ukrainian birth certificates and lack proper birth registration. in addition, some from the occupied territories who lost their passports cannot confirm their ukrainian citizenship because authorities do not have access to the archives located on the occupied territory to check whether the passport was indeed issued earlier. others living abroad and wishing to return are faced with a similar problem if they have lost their passport. what is the solution? the majority of stateless persons have grounds for acquiring, say, russian or ukrainian citizenship on the basis of their territorial origin, but the formalisation or inaccessibility of the procedure for doing this and defects in the corresponding laws of both countries trap stateless persons in a legal impasse on their path to citizenship. for them, the solution can be straightforward, although they still require legal assistance to approach the court in order to obtain a passport. for others who do not appear to have a right to acquire citizenship, the only option would be to undergo statelessness determination, but the procedure does not exist in many post-soviet countries, including russia and ukraine. many still lack an effective procedure to legalise stateless persons who, without valid identity documents, are not only deprived of access to realise their rights, but are also prosecuted for violating the migration laws of the countries where they are located. russia has not implemented the strategic decisions of the european court of human rights (primarily in the case of kim v. russia, 2015) and the most important decision issued by russia’s constitutional court (case of noé mskhiladze, 2017), which could fundamentally improve the situation of stateless persons in russia. even though the russian ministry of internal affairs developed a draft law two years ago envisaging that stateless persons would be issued identity documents giving them the right to reside in russia, the right to work without work licenses and permits, and the possibility for former soviet citizens to acquire russian citizenship under simplified procedures, there is still no information that this draft is being considered by the state duma. despite the many decades that have passed since the dissolution of the ussr, many former soviet countries have still not been able to tackle the situation of documentation or resolve the issues around nationality that arose in its aftermath. this has meant that statelessness is now being passed on to a new generation. how many more decades will it take to eradicate statelessness in the region? share this sign up to our newsletter enter your name and email address below to receive regular updates from us ____________________ ____________________ ____________________ (subscribe) sign up sign up to our newsletter enter your name and email address below to receive regular updates from us get in touch * +44 7423 224150 * [email protected] facebook twitter youtube instagram take action iohr is advocating for change. we want to hear from you about abuses of human rights. let us help advocacy works * not born a radical * be a refugee sponsor * brexit vs your rights iohr network * partners * helping hands fund * iohr ambassadors * finances media * press releases * events * blog * research join our multilingual social community: * english * français * عَرَبِيّ * فارسی * türkçe [helping-hands-logo.png] [iohr-llm-logo.png] © 2018 international observatory of human rights international observatory of human rights is a limited company registered in england and wales (11061322). 3rd floor, 86-90 paul street, london ec2a 4ne. view on google maps * terms and conditions * privacy policy * cookie policy * data protection [tr?id=2332336596845879&ev=pageview &noscript=1] #publisher skip to main content iframe: https://www.googletagmanager.com/ns.html?id=gtm-ww9wbh × search form search _______________ search irc * crisis watch: 24 million yemenis at catastrophic humanitarian risk * search * log in * careers * volunteer * * donate (button) ☰ * × * who we arewho we are + about us o at a glance o annual report o financials & ratings o our strategy + our people o president david miliband o staff leaders o board & advisors o voices * where we workwhere we work + location o africaafrica # burkina faso # burundi # cameroon # central african republic # chad # democratic republic of congo # ethiopia # ivory coast # kenya # liberia # libya # mali # niger # nigeria # sierra leone # somalia # south sudan # tanzania # uganda # zimbabwe o asiaasia # afghanistan # bangladesh # malaysia # myanmar # pakistan # thailand o europeeurope # germany # greece # italy # serbia o latin americalatin america # colombia # el salvador # mexico # venezuela o middle eastmiddle east # iraq # jordan # lebanon # syria # yemen o united statesunited states # abilene, tx # atlanta, ga # baltimore, md # boise, id # charlottesville, va # dallas, tx # denver, co # elizabeth, nj # los angeles, ca # miami, fl # missoula, mt # new york, ny # oakland, ca # phoenix, az # richmond, va # sacramento, ca # salt lake city, ut # san diego, ca # san jose, ca # seattle, wa # silver spring, md # tallahassee, fl # tucson, az # turlock, ca # wichita, ks * what we dowhat we do + where we focus o economic wellbeing o education o health o empowerment o safety + our approach o better aid o centered on women & girls o policy & advocacy o how we use evidence o airbel impact lab o reports & resources * how to helphow to help + give o donate monthly o rescue gifts o make a tribute gift o start a fundraising campaign o donor advised funds (daf) o make a planned gift + join us o take action o become a corporate partner o attend an event o volunteer o careers o genr * latestlatest + news o news & features o media center + crises & issues o border asylum seekers o coronavirus o malnutrition o refugees in america o syria conflict o the irc and sesame workshop * crisis watch * search * log in * careers * volunteer * * (button) * donate explainer some of the boys rescued from a thai cave are 'stateless.' what does that mean? july 13, 2018 by sarah newgarden digital content intern, international rescue committee the world is celebrating the extraordinary rescue of the wild boars soccer team from a flooded cave network in the mai sai district of thailand, but the incident has also shined a spotlight on a humanitarian crisis on the thailand-myanmar border that has been overlooked since the start of military rule in myanmar in the 1960s. three of the boys, as well as their coach, 25-year-old ekkapol chantawong, belong to thailand’s stateless population. “coach ek” and these boys have escaped from the treacherous caves, but remain trapped, as they have been all their lives, in a state of legal limbo. statelessness is a serious and little understood problem common in regions like the myanmar-thailand border plagued by conflict. stateless persons are not recognized as citizens of any country. “theoretically, all people must be under the care and protection of at least one state,” said thai lawyer and human rights activist surapong kongchantuk. “but in reality, there are more than 500,000 persons in thailand who do not have any nationality, even though they were born and raised in thailand.” thai cave rescue: first pictures emerge of boys in hospital https://t.co/lvz0tg8ge3 — bbc news (world) (@bbcworld) july 11, 2018 although health care and education are provided to all people in thailand, it can take more than 10 years for some stateless people to get nationality to acquire thai citizenship, according to surapong. those awaiting a decision cannot legally work, open a bank account, travel, vote, or own property. those without any documentation or nationality verification can be deported and are perpetually vulnerable to exploitation such as sexual violence, human trafficking and forced labor. how did some of the members of the wild boars become stateless? like many others in this situation, they came from minority groups subjected to ethnic conflict, human-rights abuses and economic deprivation in myanmar. in many cases stateless persons are simply denied citizenship at birth. hundreds of thousands of them have crossed the border to northern thailand. children sit outside a makeshift shelter in a settlement for burmese migrant workers near mae sot, thailand. children in a settlement for migrant workers from myanmar near mae sot, thailand. some 3 million refugees, displaced people and migrants live in limbo in thailand. photo: peter biro/irc coach ek was the boys’ only caregiver for 18 days. himself a member of the stateless shan community, he has said that the lack of status of some members of the team had often deterred the team from traveling to away games —and will prevent some of his talented players from becoming professionals unless they acquire a nationality. one of the young players, adul sam-on, who proved an invaluable translator to the team’s english-speaking rescuers, is a stateless member of the wa, a self-governing tribe not recognized by myanmar or thailand. adul’s parents smuggled him into mai sai when he was six years old so he could gain an education and escape the fate of becoming a child soldier. new video shows just how dangerous the thai cave rescue was https://t.co/qsyhamiw3x pic.twitter.com/chbp96p1wy — cnn (@cnn) july 12, 2018 adul was taken in by a local baptist church and, at age 14, is the pride of his community. he excels at academics and sports, speaks five languages, and has earned himself full tuition at school. although adul and his teammates have experienced countless ordeals beyond finding themselves trapped a mile underground, they’ve managed, with the help of coach ek, to demonstrate their resiliency. the boys’ story has raised hopes of a better life for all stateless people in thailand. meanwhile, the team has vowed to play soccer every chance they can. the game provides them with a sense of normalcy, even in their very abnormal condition of statelessness. update, jul13: the independent newspaper reports that thai authorities have now promised to provide coach ek and the stateless boys legal assistance and say that, barring complications, all will have thai nationality within six months. the international rescue committee in thailand the irc helps displaced people along the thailand-myanmar border to understand and assert their rights and successfully seek appropriate legal remedies. the irc also supports migrant advocacy networks in thailand and provides critical legal, health and protection services to approximately 100,000 refugees living in camps. read about our work in thailand. explore related topics * statelessness * burmese refugees related news & features * mother with her nine-month-year old son world's longest civil war mae tao—lifeline on the border for burmese refugees july 25, 2016 * #choosehumanity an inside look at refugee resettlement december 2, 2016 * refugee resettlement from life in limbo to refuge in utah january 28, 2017 * refugee resettlement irc supporters help a burmese family restart their lives in america november 21, 2016 crisis watch * who we are * where we work * what we do * how to help * latest * contact us * donor help * code of conduct * ethics hotline our efficiency * 87% program services * 8% management & general * 5% fundraising donate join our mailing list ____________________ subscribe follow us * global affiliates: irc uk stichting vluchteling * respecting your privacy * terms and conditions international rescue committee is a 501(c)(3) not-for-profit organization. ein number 13-5660870. copyright © international rescue committee, 2021 × sign up to be a monthly donor and help us reach more refugee families.give monthly iframe: https://www.googletagmanager.com/ns.html?id=gtm-p59jvdp (button) * sign in (button) my account manage account faqs sign out * subscribe * donald trump impeached again * democracy under attack * coronavirus stats * [newsletter-round.svg] newsletter (button) (button) ____________________ (button) my account * manage account * faqs * sign out (button) sign in sections * home * u.s. * politics * world * health * personal finance by nextadvisor * business * tech * entertainment * ideas * science * history * newsfeed * sports * magazine * video * time100 talks * the time vault * time for kids * time edge join us * newsletters * subscribe * give a gift * shop the time store reach out * careers * press room * contact the editors * u.s. customer service * e.u. customer service * asia customer service * reprints and permissions more * privacy policy * your california privacy rights * terms of use * site map connect with us * world * india * 4 million indian citizens could be made stateless tomorrow. here’s what to know 4 million indian citizens could be made stateless tomorrow. here’s what to know by billy perrigo august 30, 2019 11:05 am edt as many as 4 million people — many of them muslims — may lose their indian citizenship on saturday, accused of being “infiltrators” by the government of prime minister narendra modi. modi’s ruling bharatiya janata party (bjp) is preparing to release the final version of a controversial list called the national register of citizens, the result of a six-year effort to ostensibly catalog all the legal residents of the northeastern state of assam. but the list has been mired in controversy. the last time a draft was released, in 2018, 4.1 million people were left off, putting them at risk of being made stateless. many of them were poor, illiterate and/or members of the muslim minority. observers are worried that the final list, published on saturday, will result in families being split up, incarcerated, and even being chased out to bangladesh — a country many have never set foot in. and rights groups are worried that the list could set off a chain of events similar to the rohingya crisis in myanmar in 2017, when roughly 750,000 members of the muslim rohingya minority were persecuted, stripped of their burmese citizenship and forced to flee to bangladesh. others fear that this is the start of a disturbing trend. modi’s home minister, amit shah, has promised to expel “infiltrators” from the rest of india, using assam as a testing ground. “we will implement national register of citizens in the entire country,” shah said when the bjp returned to power for another five years in may. “we will remove every single infiltrator.” here’s what to know about india’s national register of citizens. why does the indian government want a national register of citizens? the idea has been floated before, partly because of the local history of assam, where indigenous assamese people have long held anxieties about being displaced by waves of bengali immigration — first during the partition of british india in 1947, then on the eve of the india-pakistan war in 1971, and still today over the state’s porous border with bangladesh. in 2013, the indian supreme court ruled that the nrc be updated. the list was first drawn up in the 1950s but fell into disuse. but the ruling bjp, which came to power the following year, has seized on the issue, because it dovetails conveniently with the party’s wider hindu nationalist message: that india’s hindus are being displaced by muslims. shah, the home minister, has previously referred to illegal immigrants as “cockroaches” — widely seen as a dog-whistle for muslims. (muslims make up some 14% of india’s population.) “bjp leaders say muslims have more children and are altering the demographic makeup of india,” says meenakshi ganguly, south asia director at human rights watch. “that kind of language is very concerning.” “the bjp has a very trump-like way of speaking about illegal immigrants,” she adds. can’t everyone in assam simply prove they are indian citizens? it’s not that easy. activists say the indian state has put an unfairly high burden of proof on residents to prove they have the right to remain — requiring documentation dating back to march 24 1971, the day before war with east pakistan (today known as bangladesh) erupted. for families who don’t keep meticulous records, who have faced persecution, or who are unable to navigate india’s complex bureaucracy, that can be difficult. even when all the papers are found, some families have still experienced obstacles. in 2018, time reported on a muslim family whose members were left off the draft version of the nrc despite providing a stack of documents going back 80 years. if their names are not included on the final version released saturday, they face being thrown into detention centers. “we have requested the government to make sure the process is not arbitrary, not discriminatory,” says ganguly of human rights watch. but only when the nrc is published will the full repercussions become clear. if anywhere close to the 4.1 million people left off the list last time are still not included, rights groups fear a humanitarian crisis. “we are very worried about something like the rohingya crisis playing out again,” ganguly tells time. “there is a similar anti-muslim public discourse [to that in myanmar] that is underlying all of this.” will families be separated? that has already happened. in 2011, a new mother called sahida bibi was deemed a foreigner by a tribunal, and thrown into a detention camp with her newborn twin sons. one of her twins died two weeks into their detention from a respiratory illness. “he made a strange noise and as i picked him up he was gone,” she told news site scroll.in. separated from her husband and still grieving, bibi was forced to remain in the detention camp for 10 months more before she was freed. a court deemed her an indian citizen, and said she should never have been detained in the first place. can india really deport millions of people to bangladesh? it’s not likely. bangladesh has called the situation in assam an “internal issue” for india to deal with. and bangladesh is already struggling to accommodate the roughly 1 million rohingya refugees who fled state-sanctioned murder, rape and violence in buddhist-majority myanmar. and, since most of the people left off the nrc don’t hold bangladeshi citizenship, or any other apart from indian, it would be illegal under international humanitarian law for india to strip their indian citizenship, thus making them stateless. so it’s more likely that india will have to send people to detention camps inside its own territory. ten new detention camps are under construction in assam, and police have been mobilized in the state ahead of the publication of the nrc. “even if there are people who are muslims who have been living in assam since the 1970s, that’s three generations of people,” says ganguly. “so how do you even decide where they are going to go?” most popular on time 1 inside the lonely end of the trump presidency 2 poet amanda gorman, 22, will read at biden's inauguration 3 the legacy of trump's border wall get the brief. sign up to receive the top stories you need to know right now. [paper-plane.svg] ____________________ please enter a valid email address. * the request timed out and you did not successfully sign up. please attempt to sign up again. (button) sign up now an unexpected error has occurred with your sign up. please try again later. [ ] check the box if you do not wish to receive promotional offers via email from time. you can unsubscribe at any time. by signing up you are agreeing to our terms of use and privacy policy. this site is protected by recaptcha and the google privacy policy and terms of service apply. [loading-circle.gif] thank you! for your security, we've sent a confirmation email to the address you entered. click the link to confirm your subscription and begin receiving our newsletters. if you don't get the confirmation within 10 minutes, please check your spam folder. write to billy perrigo at billy.perrigo@time.com. share this story read more from time related stories read next [img_3096.jpg?quality=85&w=532] is india ready to legalize same-sex marriage? next up: editor's pick [why-we-dream-kanghee-kim.jpg?quality=85&w=267] why do we dream? edit post → get more time. create a free account. go now. be informed. be united. 2 months for $8 subscribe now sign up for newsletters sign up to receive the top stories you need to know now on politics, health and more subscribe * home * u.s. * politics * world * health * personal finance by nextadvisor * business * tech * entertainment * ideas * science * history * newsfeed * sports * magazine * the time vault * time for kids * time edge * video * masthead * newsletters * subscribe * give a gift * shop the time store * careers * press room * contact the editors * u.s. customer service * e.u. customer service * asia customer service * reprints and permissions * site map © 2021 time usa, llc. all rights reserved. use of this site constitutes acceptance of our terms of use, privacy policy (your california privacy rights) and do not sell my personal information. time may receive compensation for some links to products and services on this website. offers may be subject to change without notice. this site is protected by recaptcha and the google privacy policy terms of service apply. | eu data subject requests skip to main content iframe: https://www.googletagmanager.com/ns.html?id=gtm-w5d7zp help us continue to fight human rights abuses. please give now to support our work human rights watch (button) * العربية * 简中 * 繁中 * english * français * deutsch * 日本語 * русский * português * español * more search _______________ (search) donate now search _______________ (search) * countries * topics * reports * videos & photos * impact * take action * about * join us * give now * العربية * 简中 * 繁中 * english * français * deutsch * 日本語 * русский * português * español * more human rights watch (button) print search _______________ (search) donate now january 17, 2017 6:47am est | dispatches it’s time to end child statelessness in estonia un experts should address issue during review of estonia’s rights record author image helen griffiths coordinator, children's rights griffithsh_ griffithsh_ this week, the united nations committee on the rights of the child will review estonia’s child rights record. it is crucial that this include child statelessness. estonia's president toomas hendrik addresses the united nations general assembly in the manhattan borough of new york, u.s. september 21, 2016. click to expand image estonia's president toomas hendrik addresses the united nations general assembly in the manhattan borough of new york, u.s. september 21, 2016. © 2016 reuters as of january 2016, about 6.1 percent of estonia’s population of 1.3 million is stateless – 79,300 people. when estonia gained independence in 1991, the government adopted strict citizenship policies that made nearly 40 percent of the population stateless. residents who were not estonian citizens before world war ii – many of them ethnic russians – had to go through a strict naturalization process, including a language test and a residency period. disappointingly, while estonia has made some strides in reducing child statelessness since then, it has not fully addressed the problem. in 2015, estonia amended its citizenship law to make it easier for several categories of people, including children, to become naturalized from january 2016. but there’s one glaring gap for children: adolescents between the ages of 16 and 18 and children born outside estonia to stateless residents of estonia still cannot automatically obtain citizenship. there are huge implications for these children. in estonia, the stateless hold a special legal status and children can access education and health care on an almost equal basis. but a lack of citizenship and identity can expose children to discrimination, meaning they often don’t feel at home in the country in which they live. it can also affect them psychologically. estonia’s government seems reluctant to want to change this. recommendations from other states to act on child statelessness, and statelessness more generally, at a un review last year were noted, but not accepted. estonia is also not a party to the principal international human rights treaties relating to statelessness, stating in its report to the committee on the rights of the child that it has found that, “persons with undetermined citizenship residing in estonia are currently enjoying all the rights under the convention [relating to the status of stateless persons].” of course, child statelessness is not just limited to estonia. at a time when there’s a global campaign to end all statelessness by 2024, the committee on the rights of the child should help focus attention on the particular challenges stateless children face. all children have a right to a nationality and to live in a society free from discrimination. the committee needs to send a clear message that this key gap in estonia’s child rights record requires an urgent fix. your tax deductible gift can help stop human rights violations and save lives around the world. (*) $50 ( ) $100 ( ) $250 ( ) $500 ( ) $1000 ( ) other ____________________ (donate) donate now region / country * europe/central asia , * estonia topic * children's rights more reading * december 14, 2020 dispatches every child in the uk deserves a safe and secure home the interior of accommodation in marston court on bordars walk in hanwell, west london, where converted shipping containers have been re-purposed for use as temporary accommodation, august 20, 2019. * december 10, 2020 news release kyrgyzstan: barriers to education for children with disabilities a child stares out a bedroom window reports * december 10, 2020 report insisting on inclusion institutionalization and barriers to education for children with disabilities in kyrgyzstan a child stares out a bedroom window * june 18, 2020 report “they talk to us like we’re dogs” abusive police stops in france police search a man at night more reading * december 14, 2020 dispatches every child in the uk deserves a safe and secure home the interior of accommodation in marston court on bordars walk in hanwell, west london, where converted shipping containers have been re-purposed for use as temporary accommodation, august 20, 2019. * december 10, 2020 news release kyrgyzstan: barriers to education for children with disabilities a child stares out a bedroom window most viewed 1. january 8, 2021 dispatches trump administration again weakens lgbt protections the picture shows the emblem of the united states department of health and human services. 2. january 13, 2021 commentary brazil: institutions stand up to bolsonaro presidente jair messias bolsonaro 3. january 13, 2021 news release pakistan: worsening crackdown on dissent members of civil society groups take part in a rally to condemn a recent gang rape of a woman on a highway, karachi, pakistan, september 12, 2020. 4. january 13, 2021 news release china: global resistance to deepening repression 202012asia_china_wr 5. july 29, 2020 report “they treated us in monstrous ways” 202007syria_lgbt_main protecting rights, saving lives human rights watch defends the rights of people in 90 countries worldwide, spotlighting abuses and bringing perpetrators to justice (donate) donate now get updates on human rights issues from around the globe. join our movement today. ____________________ submit get updates on rights issues from around the globe ____________________ (sign) sign up connect with us * twitter * facebook * youtube * instagram footer menu * contact us * corrections * privacy policy * permissions * blackbaud security incident © 2021 human rights watch human rights watch | 350 fifth avenue, 34th floor | new york, ny 10118-3299 usa | t 1.212.290.4700 human rights watch is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit registered in the us under ein: 13-2875808 human rights watch #publisher alternate skip to main content the guardian - back to home thank you for your support you’ve powered our journalism through a historic year gift options search jobs sign in [ ] my account * account overview * billing * profile * emails & marketing * settings * help ______________________________________________________________ * comments & replies ______________________________________________________________ * sign out search [ ] * switch to the international edition * switch to the uk edition * switch to the us edition * switch to the australia edition current edition: international edition * news * opinion * sport * culture * lifestyle [ ] show more * (button) news + coronavirus + world news + uk news + environment + science + global development + football + tech + business + obituaries * (button) opinion + the guardian view + columnists + cartoons + opinion videos + letters * (button) sport + football + cricket + rugby union + tennis + cycling + f1 + golf + us sports * (button) culture + books + music + tv & radio + art & design + film + games + classical + stage * (button) lifestyle + fashion + food + recipes + love & sex + health & fitness + home & garden + women + men + family + travel + money ____________________ what term do you want to search? (button) search with google * make a contribution * subscribe * (button) international edition + switch to the uk edition + switch to the us edition + switch to the australia edition * search jobs * holidays * digital archive * guardian puzzles app * the guardian app * video * podcasts * pictures * newsletters * today's paper * inside the guardian * the observer * guardian weekly * crosswords * facebook * twitter * search jobs * holidays * digital archive * guardian puzzles app * australia * coronavirus * world * au politics * environment * football * indigenous australia * immigration * media * business * science * tech (button) more australia news this article is more than 2 years old stateless in australia: new centre to shine light on those incarcerated without hope this article is more than 2 years old peter mcmullin centre on statelessness to develop responses to crisis affecting 10 million people worldwide ben doherty @bendohertycorro tue 27 mar 2018 02.07 bst * share on facebook * share on twitter * share via email a rohingya refugee child looks through the fence at a refugee camp in cox’s bazar, bangladesh. [ ] a rohingya refugee child looks through the fence at a refugee camp in cox’s bazar, bangladesh. myanmar’s rohingya are one of the largest and most at-risk stateless groups. a new centre has opened in australia to research statelessness. photograph: mohammad ponir hossain/reuters every year, nations are asked by the united nations high commissioner for refugees how many stateless people are within its borders. last year, the australian government told the un that number was zero. under questioning in senate estimates, it emerged there were 37 stateless people being held by the australian government in immigration detention, on average for more than two-and-a-half years. 'every day i am crushed': the stateless man held without trial by australia for eight years read more some, like said imasi, whose so far eight-year detention was reported by the guardian in january, face indefinite detention: theoretically they can legally be incarcerated without charge or allegation until the end of their lives. on monday night, a new initiative was launched to shine a light on their plight. professor michelle foster from the university of melbourne will head the new peter mcmullin centre on statelessness with a mandate to research the scale of, and reasons for, statelessness and to develop responses to it, and work to protect the human rights of stateless people. “australia’s record on stateless persons leaves much to be desired,” foster wrote in pursuit this month. “by way of example, said has been recognised as a stateless person by the australian refugee review tribunal and yet the australian government refuses to release him from detention, or grant him a protection visa. “since there is no australian visa specifically for stateless persons, many are detained indefinitely in australian immigration detention and an unknown number have also been detained offshore in centres on nauru and manus island.” globally, it’s estimated up to 10 million people are currently stateless. the figure is only a estimate because the number can’t be truly gauged – the stateless are, almost by definition, the uncounted. foster told the guardian the issue of statelessness has existed “since there were states”, but that modern international legal efforts have not kept pace with the problem. “statelessness became a bit of a forgotten issue … while with refugee law we have thousands of decisions emanating out of courts, we have a lot of understanding, statelessness has been overlooked from an academic point of view. it became clear there is needed, a focal point in this region, to better understand this issue, and to develop policy to address it.” in 1954, a convention on stateless persons was brought into force, just three years after the – related – refugees convention. but while the refugees convention has become the international standard (though not always adhered to) for protection of those displaced by persecution, those without a country to call their own have not enjoyed the same rights. “and there’s no reason for that,” foster said. “if you look at the statelessness convention, it’s almost word for word [with the refugee convention]: you’re outside your country of origin, you require the same protection as a refugee. what stateless people really need are the protections to allow them to establish a life with dignity in a new place.” australia does not have a specific visa for stateless people, despite a public pledge in 2011 “committed to minimising the incidence of statelessness and to ensuring that stateless person are treated no less favourably than people with an identified nationality”. the unhcr made a decade-long commitment in 2014 – i belong – to eliminate statelessness by 2024. australia condemns myanmar violence and says offenders 'must be held to account' read more forty percent of the world’s stateless are in australia’s region, the asia pacific. the rohingya ethnic and religious minority of myanmar are one of the largest and most at-risk stateless groups. denationalised by that country’s then-ruling military junta in the 1980s, the rohingya have long suffered ostracisation and persecution, one that has peaked in recent months, through a violent pogrom by the country’s military, which has murdered, raped and brutalised the minority population, razed villages to the ground and forced hundreds of thousands over the border. “the rohingya situation shows the vulnerability that follows from being stateless,” foster said. “it demonstrates densationslisation as a form of persecution, and that has led to even more extreme version of persecution.” topics * australia news * australian immigration and asylum * refugees * human rights * asia pacific * rohingya * united nations * news * share on facebook * share on twitter * share via email * share on linkedin * share on pinterest * share on whatsapp * share on messenger * reuse this content most popular * australia * coronavirus * world * au politics * environment * football * indigenous australia * immigration * media * business * science * tech * news * opinion * sport * culture * lifestyle iframe: https://www.theguardian.com/email/form/footer/today-uk + contact us + complaints & corrections + securedrop + work for us + privacy policy + cookie policy + terms & conditions + help + all topics + all writers + digital newspaper archive + facebook + youtube + instagram + linkedin + twitter + newsletters + advertise with us + search uk jobs support the guardian available for everyone, funded by readers contribute subscribe back to top © 2021 guardian news & media limited or its affiliated companies. all rights reserved. (button) close [p?c1=2&c2=6035250&cv=2.0&cj=1&cs_ucfr=0&gdpr=0&comscorekw=australia+ne ws%2caustralian+immigration+and+asylum%2crefugees%2chuman+rights%2casia +pacific%2crohingya%2cunited+nations%2cmigration] #alternate alternate alternate posts feed for leah libresco skip to main content fivethirtyeight fivethirtyeight search ____________________ search (button) search menu myanmar’s rohingya refugees are the world’s largest group of stateless people share on facebook share on twitter * politics * sports * science * podcasts * video * abc news may 11, 2015, at 2:37 pm myanmar’s rohingya refugees are the world’s largest group of stateless people by leah libresco filed under migration * facebook * twitter * email * hundreds of rohingya wash up on indonesian coast more than 500 rohingya muslims from myanmar and bangladesh took shelter in seunuddon after coming ashore on sumatra island in indonesia on monday. junaidi hanafiah / anadolu agency / getty images more than 1,500 rohingya muslim and bangladeshi refugees have landed in indonesia and malaysia since sunday. seven thousand more are estimated to still be on the oceans, fleeing myanmar. if these groups of refugees are turned back, it’s not clear where the rohingya will be sent, because they are considered stateless. in fact, they are the largest group of stateless people in the world. rohingya residents of myanmar are not citizens of their own nation. in 1982, myanmar’s citizenship law classified all rohingya as immigrants from bangladesh, regardless of where they were born or how long their families had lived in myanmar. the muslim rohingya are an ethnic minority in predominantly buddhist myanmar. during territorial disputes, the rohingya have favored autonomy for themselves or, in the 1940s, absorption into the former east pakistan. the united nations estimates that myanmar has relegated over a million rohingya to the status of stateless people — they constitute 10 percent of all stateless people in the world. over 800,000 stateless rohingya still live in myanmar, and 100,000 of them have been confined to restrictive and dangerous camps. myanmar has expelled doctors without borders from regions populated by rohingya, depriving residents of medical care and of foreign witnesses to attacks and massacres. country stateless population 1 myanmar 810k 2 côte d’ivoire 700 3 thailand 506 4 latvia 267 5 dominican republic 210 in december 2014, the united nations general assembly passed a resolution urging myanmar to grant citizenship to its rohingya residents, but myanmar has refused to relent. the rohingya have little to lose by fleeing a country that disavows them. it’s difficult to imagine that this week’s attempted exodus will be the last. correction: an earlier version of this article gave the wrong date for the passage of the un resolution on rohingya citizenship. it was december 2014. leah libresco is a former news writer for fivethirtyeight. @leahlibresco comments filed under migration (17 posts) burma (1) myanmar (1) rohingya (1) newsletter want more fivethirtyeight? get our weekly most popular stories newsletter. you are now subscribed! ____________________ (button) sign me up see all newsletters featured video * why trump’s second impeachment will be a political test for both republicans and democrats (button) 200111_pod_4x3 * why 10 republicans voted for impeachment (button) 210113_pod_4x3 * why police aggression is far more pronounced against left-leaning protesters (button) 20210108_race_protest_standard * what trumpism has cost the gop and the nation (button) 210106_pod_4x3 get more fivethirtyeight * store * newsletter * twitter * facebook * data * rss * * follow @fivethirtyeight * contact * jobs * masthead * about nielsen measurement * advertise with us powered by wordpress.com vip * terms of use * privacy policy * do not sell my info * your california privacy rights * children's online privacy policy * interest-based ads © 2021 abc news internet ventures. all rights reserved. (button) close additional information terms of use and privacy policy and safety information/your california privacy rights/children's online privacy policy are applicable to you. © 2021 abc news internet ventures. all rights reserved. interest-based ads. cookie policy. send to email address ____________________ your name ____________________ your email address ____________________ _________________________ loading send email cancel post was not sent - check your email addresses! email check failed, please try again sorry, your blog cannot share posts by email. [ng-black-logo.ngsversion.5fd970a7.png] https://www.nationalgeographic.com/culture/onward/2014/11/17/the-statel ess-among-us.html © 1996-2015 national geographic society, © 2015- 2020 national geographic partners, llc. all rights reserved __________________________________________________________________ [json] onward here’s what it’s like to be stateless 2 minute read __________________________________________________________________ by daniel stone __________________________________________________________________ published november 17, 2014 when whistleblower edward snowden gave his first interview to american media in may, one of his chief laments was that, with his passport deactivated and threat of jail time in the united states, he had turned into a stateless person. from his apartment in moscow, where he is neither a citizen nor allowed to stay any longer than his visa can be renewed, he claimed he simply has no viable place to go. as a complaint, snowden’s lament is sad. but in context, snowden, in a secure apartment in a developed capital city, has it far better than others. according to the united nations and its refugee arm, the office of the high commissioner for refugees, there are more than 10 million people worldwide. this amounts to a new stateless baby born every 10 minutes. they’re born with no country, no documentation, little social support, and hardly any opportunity to advance. statelessness is a simple concept, although the causes are less clear. sometimes war and conflict drive people from their homes. other countries with poor social institutions can’t provide the paperwork or documents needed to travel abroad. one on hand, stateless people tend not to be charged taxes. they’re frequently exempt from unfair regulations or things like military drafts. yet living off government rolls also deprives them from protection under the law, leaving them susceptible to abuse and under threat of being deported—to where isn’t always clear. more than a third of the stateless are children, a statistic the u.n. hopes will encourage countries to deal with the stateless among them. by 2025, the organization hopes to eliminate statelessness entirely, from 10 million to zero. it’s not as easy as just granting status and distributing passports. one primary hurdle is compiling accurate numbers of stateless people, an inherent challenge with people living in the shadows. persuading countries to grant legal status—as president obama is expected to do this month for five million immigrants in the u.s. illegally—can become a political question subject to legislative debate and the will of voters. as with any condition of a large group of people, the solution lies primarily in economics. how are countries supposed to deal with additional people that can destabilize economies and social services when added too quickly? nearly 82 countries have subscribed to a u.n. convention that makes babies born on a country’s soil, no matter where there parents are from, instantly citizens. that same baby can’t be persecuted any differently from other illegal immigrants, nor can she be stripped of money or property. eighty two countries is a start, the u.n. points out. but when measured against all countries, the number is still less than half. (button) continue reading #alternate alternate alternate alternate alternate alternate skip navigation follow osce * facebook * twitter * youtube * linkedin * soundcloud * instagram [logo%402x.png] osce organization for security and co-operation in europe navigation search navigation * home * who we are + what is the osce? + participating states + partners for co-operation + chairmanship + summits + ministerial councils + permanent council + forum for security co-operation + leadership + osce-related bodies + funding and budget + history * what we do + arms control + border management + combating human trafficking + countering terrorism + conflict prevention and resolution + cyber/ict security + democratization + economic activities + education + elections + environmental activities + gender equality + good governance + human rights + media freedom and development + migration + national minority issues + policing + reform and co-operation in the security sector + roma and sinti + rule of law + tolerance and non-discrimination + youth + #globalgoals - the osce and the sustainable development goals * where we are + presence in albania + mission to bosnia and herzegovina + mission in kosovo + mission to montenegro + mission to serbia + mission to skopje + mission to moldova + project co-ordinator in ukraine + special monitoring mission to ukraine + observer mission at the russian checkpoints gukovo and donetsk + personal representative of the chairperson-in-office on the conflict dealt with by the osce minsk conference + centre in ashgabat + programme office in nur-sultan + programme office in bishkek + programme office in dushanbe + project co-ordinator in uzbekistan + closed field operations * institutions & structures + parliamentary assembly + high commissioner on national minorities + office for democratic institutions and human rights + representative on freedom of the media + court of conciliation and arbitration + minsk group + secretariat * resources + csce/osce key documents + documents by the osce decision-making bodies + documents library + publications + press releases and news archive + multimedia + e-libraries + link newsletter + quarterly selections + social media 0meta navigation * newsroom * blog * magazine * events * partnerships * networks * search [logo%402x.png] osce organization for security and co-operation in europe 0meta navigation * newsroom * blog * magazine * events * partnerships * networks * search × close search navigation * home * who we are + what is the osce? + participating states + partners for co-operation + chairmanship + summits + ministerial councils + permanent council + forum for security co-operation + leadership + osce-related bodies + funding and budget + history * what we do + arms control + border management + combating human trafficking + countering terrorism + conflict prevention and resolution + cyber/ict security + democratization + economic activities + education + elections + environmental activities + gender equality + good governance + human rights + media freedom and development + migration + national minority issues + policing + reform and co-operation in the security sector + roma and sinti + rule of law + tolerance and non-discrimination + youth + #globalgoals - the osce and the sustainable development goals * where we are + presence in albania + mission to bosnia and herzegovina + mission in kosovo + mission to montenegro + mission to serbia + mission to skopje + mission to moldova + project co-ordinator in ukraine + special monitoring mission to ukraine + observer mission at the russian checkpoints gukovo and donetsk + personal representative of the chairperson-in-office on the conflict dealt with by the osce minsk conference + centre in ashgabat + programme office in nur-sultan + programme office in bishkek + programme office in dushanbe + project co-ordinator in uzbekistan + closed field operations * institutions & structures + parliamentary assembly + high commissioner on national minorities + office for democratic institutions and human rights + representative on freedom of the media + court of conciliation and arbitration + minsk group + secretariat * resources + csce/osce key documents + documents by the osce decision-making bodies + documents library + publications + press releases and news archive + multimedia + e-libraries + link newsletter + quarterly selections + social media home ending statelessness: interview with volker türk share * share on twitter * share on facebook * share on linkedin * english * русский * français * deutsch * italiano * español ending statelessness: interview with volker türk 19 april 2017 ceremony granting citizenship to formerly stateless persons in turkmenistan. r: volker türk, assistant high commissioner for protection, unhcr. ashgabat, 23 june 2014. (unhcr/z. dossova) photo details the osce and the united nations high commissioner for refugees (unhcr) launched the handbook on statelessness in the osce areas last month. volker türk, assistant high commissioner for protection, unhcr, tells why preventing and remedying statelessness is high on the joint unchr-osce agenda. why is preventing statelessness important? statelessness concerns a basic human right, the right to citizenship. in contrast, for example, to the refugee issue, it is often invisible, forgotten, not really on the radar of governments. yet it fundamentally affects lives. if you don’t have nationality, you can't travel, for a start. but that is not the most important thing. sometimes you don’t have access to basic services: healthcare, schools. just think of how many times in your daily life you have to produce your id papers. not only do people not really know about the plight of stateless people, they also often don't know that sometimes it is quite easy to resolve it, with political will and some changes to legislation. unhcr has been entrusted by the un general assembly to protect stateless people, to prevent statelessness and reduce it where it exists. it is part of our core mandate. with our #ibelong campaign we aim to end statelessness by 2024. how does statelessness arise? sometimes, stateless is a gender issue. there are still 26 countries in the world that discriminate on the basis of gender with regard to the way they confer nationality. for example, if a woman marries a foreigner or a stateless person, she cannot in these 26 countries confer her nationality to her children. there have been some harrowing examples of the children then becoming stateless. in the osce area, statelessness has often arisen in relation to state succession, the dissolution of what used to be one country – yugoslavia, the soviet union, also czechoslovakia. if statelessness is often invisible, how can you find out how many people are stateless and reach out to them? this is one of our biggest issues. we have estimated that about 10 million people are stateless worldwide, but there are only 3.5 million people that we really know about. we need to work with census institutes, with the people that manage documentation registries, and make them aware of the fact that these people exist, because otherwise they may not be registered or documented. so that’s part of the work that we do. encouraging birth registration in the refugee context is also a huge task. for example, syrian refugees that are born outside their country, in lebanon or in turkey, may well not have a birth certificate. and if that is not fixed, then it is difficult to prove who your parents are. so the issuing of birth certificates is crucial to preventing these problems in the future. you mentioned that statelessness can be relatively easy to resolve. are there examples of success in the osce area? latvia and estonia have made enormous progress over the years in finding ways, first of all, to enhance the status of non-citizens or people with undetermined nationality. they rightly claim that the status they accord non-citizens is higher than what is foreseen in the 1954 convention [un convention related to the status of stateless persons]. secondly, they have set up a path to naturalization, which is equally important. but russia has also done a lot – we see significant a reduction in the russian federation in the number of formally stateless people. it is important to point out that these matters affect the personal lives of human beings: they should not become a subject of tensions between states. we encourage states to work on statelessness at the human and technical levels and find the ways and means to deal with it that serve the people best. has unhcr worked together with the osce to prevent or remedy statelessness? we have worked quite closely with the osce – with the high commissioner on national minorities (hcnm), with the office of democratic institutions and human rights (odihr) and with osce field operations – in a number of areas. in south-eastern europe, for example, the osce’s hcnm, unhcr and the european commission joined forces in 2011 to bring government officials from across the region together for a regional conference on statelessness in zagreb, producing the zagreb declaration, a set of recommendations to eliminate the causes of statelessness. further regional conferences, for example on durable solutions for displaced persons from kosovo, and also mapping exercises conducted by unhcr to assess the need for improvements have led to tangible changes. serbia, for example, passed legal amendments in 2012 allowing for a simplified procedure to establish the time and place of birth of persons who had been long unsuccessful in meeting complex administrative registration requirements. montenegro introduced a judicial procedure for late birth registration in 2015. unhcr and osce have also co-operated in central asia, where we have actually seen a lot of success – in turkmenistan, for example. the establishment of the new republics in central asia left thousands of former soviet union citizens stateless. sometimes people didn’t register or didn’t get the proper documentation at the time when the new state issued its nationality laws, and as a result they became stateless. to remedy the situation, it was important, first of all, to engage in dialogue with the government and get their support. in 2009 we co-organized a regional conference in ashgabat on preventing statelessness. in 2010 the turkmen government adopted an action plan to eliminate statelessness. secondly, we reached out to communities, to make sure they knew about the possibility of having their nationality confirmed and how to go about it. this led to around 5,500 stateless persons receiving turkmen citizenship between 2007 and 2016 and a further 5,500 being naturalized by the end of 2016. i personally attended a ceremony in ashgabat a few years ago, in which the interior minister handed nationality certificates to formerly stateless people – it was a colourful, joyful event. how do you expect the osce-unhcr handbook on statelessness in the osce area will help to eliminate statelessness? i think it is great that we could produce this handbook on statelessness together with the two osce institutions odihr and hcnm. both them are deeply concerned by the issue. from the hcnm perspective, we know that minority groups are often marginalized and that they can end up in a situation of statelessness as a result. the most glaring example is roma and sinti communities in the western balkans – but also in ukraine. this is another important area where our two organizations have been working together. the odihr contact point on roma and sinti issues hosted an expert seminar together with the ukrainian government in 2015, on access to identification and civil registration documents by roma, and unhcr experts were invited to share good practices. the idea was to help the ukrainian authorities to gain a deeper understanding of the obstacles roma face in obtaining civil registration and to identify concrete steps to overcome them. i hope that the information and good practices presented in the handbook will inspire discussions and encourage further engagements and concrete actions by participating states to eradicate statelessness in the osce area. we hope very much that all osce participating states will accede to both of the un conventions [the 1954 un convention related to the status of stateless persons and the 1961 un convention on the reduction of statelessness], because that would be the strongest signal, and maybe there could even be a decision by the osce to make that point and to support the unhcr’s global #ibelong campaign, lift it above the fray, not for the politics of it but in the spirit of finding a solution. welcome to security community security community is the osce’s online space for expert analysis and personal perspectives on security issues. the views expressed in the articles are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the official position of the osce and its participating states. * home * contacts * report wrongdoing * sitemap * employment * social media * about this website * procurement * terms of use * feedback subscribe to osce e-mail: ____________________________________________________________ sign up follow us * join us on facebook * follow us on twitter * join us on youtube * join us on linkedin * join us on soundcloud * join us on instagram chairmanship chairmanship iframe: //www.googletagmanager.com/ns.html?id=gtm-m4kbk7 * content * search have you disabled javascript in your browser? please enable javascript in order for www.udi.no to function optimally. have you disabled javascript in your browser? please enable javascript in order for www.udi.no to function optimally. the webpage www.udi.no does not work in the opera mini browser, which you are using now. please use another browser, for example opera, or the standard browser on your phone. språk/language search * information about how to resize text * bokmål * nynorsk * english search ____________________ (button) search citizenship front page want to apply citizenship citizenship for stateless persons who are born in norway citizenship for stateless persons who are born in norway __________________________________________________________________ if you are a statless person and are born in norway, you can apply for norwegian citizenship. the information on this page is personalised for reset all the applicant is a citizen of : canada you are on the wrong page you can find information for people from your country here. when can you apply? you can apply, at the earliest, * when it is three months until you have stayed in norway for the required number of years, and * you fulfill all the other requirements for norwegian citizenship if you apply earlier, your application may be rejected. * print would you like to help us improving the website? did you find what you were looking for? (*) yes ( ) no great! if you need an answer from us, you must call or send an email to our information service. if you would like to help us with improving the website, you can tell us what you were looking for in the field below. we're sorry to hear that. if you need an answer from us, you must call or send an email to our information service. if you would like to help us with improving the website, you can tell us what you were looking for in the field below. what were you looking for? (optional) _______________________________________________________________________ _______________________________________________________________________ _______________________________________________________________________ _______________________________________________________________________ you cannot write an email address, phone number or id number here. if you need an answer from us, please go to the contact form for our information service. (button) send in thank you so much for the feedback! it helps us improve the website. if you have a question, please contact our information service. unfortunately, you will not receive an answer if you have sent us a question here. __________________________________________________________________ * skalsoke want to apply * harsokt have applied * harmottatsvar received an answer * skalfornye want to renew * contact us * word definitions * about the udi * about the corona situation * return * press * statistics and analysis * asylum reception centres * log in – application portal * booking appointments * udi regulations * udi in social media __________________________________________________________________ the norwegian directorate of immigration (udi) - cookies on udi.no - privacy declaration iframe: //www.googletagmanager.com/ns.html?id=gtm-mngqth [tr?id=1856802727895930&ev=pageview&noscript=1] skip to main content * sections * search center for strategic & international studies user menu * subscribe * sign in ranked #1 think tank in u.s. by global go to think tank index topics * climate change * cybersecurity and technology + cybersecurity + data governance + intelligence, surveillance, and privacy + military technology + space + technology and innovation * defense and security + counterterrorism and homeland security + defense budget + defense industry, acquisition, and innovation + defense strategy and capabilities + geopolitics and international security + long-term futures + missile defense + space + weapons of mass destruction proliferation * economics + asian economics + global economic governance + trade and international business * energy and sustainability + energy, climate change, and environmental impacts + energy and geopolitics + energy innovation + energy markets, trends, and outlooks * global health + family planning, maternal and child health, and immunizations + multilateral institutions + health and security + infectious disease * human rights + civil society + transitional justice + human security * international development + food and agriculture + governance and rule of law + humanitarian assistance + private sector development + u.s. development policy regions * africa + north africa + sub-saharan africa * americas + caribbean + north america + south america * arctic * asia + afghanistan + australia, new zealand & pacific + china + india + japan + korea + pakistan + southeast asia * europe + european union + nato + post-soviet europe + turkey * middle east + the gulf + egypt and the levant + north africa * russia and eurasia + the south caucasus + central asia + post-soviet europe + russia sections menu * programs * experts * events * analysis + blogs + books + commentary + congressional testimony + critical questions + interactive reports + journals + newsletter + reports + transcript * podcasts * ideas lab * transcripts * web projects main menu * about us * support csis + securing our future critical questions share * linkedin * facebook * twitter * email * printfriendly.com stateless dominicans? october 31, 2013 this past tuesday (october 29), the caribbean community (caricom) requested that the permanent council of the organization of american states (oas) examine the recent decision of the dominican republic’s constitutional court that stripped thousands of their right to dominican citizenship. the ruling threatens to deprive the descendants of foreign nationals —the lion’s share of whom are of haitian descent—of their nationality. it also poses a serious threat to the economy of the dominican republic given that the thousands of haitian immigrants and their children currently living and working in the dominican republic make up a large and important portion of the dominican labor force. dominican businesses benefit from cheap labor, provided by people looking to escape poverty. because an estimated 80 percent of haiti’s population lives in absolute poverty, many are willing to accept the $4 per day wages offered by dominican businesses. as a result, dominican coffee growers employ more than twice as many haitians as dominicans. despite a lack of conclusive evidence that haitian immigrants depress the incomes of unskilled dominican natives, nationalist tensions between the haitians and dominicans have intensified in recent years. these tensions are believed to be the driving force behind the court’s september ruling. what are the political and economic implications for the dominican republic and the now stateless dominican-haitians? q1: what are the roots of the tensions between the two countries? a1: the present day tensions between haiti and the dominican republic, principally nationalist in nature, date back to the colonial era. the spaniards colonized the eastern half of the island, with the french taking control of the west. the different economic paths followed by the two rival colonies resulted in distinct demographic patterns: the french colony, a major sugar producer, was heavily populated by african slaves. the spanish side, in contrast, was inhabited primarily by people of mixed race, who dwarfed the black population in number. racial demographics are, to some extent, central to these early tensions. then, in 1822, haiti invaded the dominican republic, occupying the entire island of hispaniola for 22 years. already on the rise, anti-haitian sentiment skyrocketed when haitian president jean pierre boyer attempted to secure his control through policies that aimed to suppress hispanic culture. though the dominican republic had regained its independence in 1844 and fought off continued invasion attempts for the next 11 years, the conflict reached new levels of violence in 1937, when dominican president rafael trujillo ordered an attack on haitian immigrants living in the border region. over 20,000 haitians were massacred. the new ruling from the dominican constitutional court, then, continues a long and storied history of tensions between the two countries—tensions that remain central to haitian-dominican relations. q2: why do haitians continue to immigrate eastward? a2: by and large, haitians move eastward because of poor living conditions at home. with a weak government prone to internal power struggles and among the poorest economies in the world, haitian infrastructure and social services are lacking—and were only damaged more by the catastrophic earthquake of 2010. despite the country’s troubles, the haitian population continues to grow at a rapid pace, further straining the country’s ability to sustain the status quo. while haiti’s labor force is huge, jobs are far from plentiful. though the government continuously seeks greater international investment, more than two-thirds of the haitian labor force remain unable to find jobs in the formal sector. of those, 40 percent are unemployed, and the rest are undercutting the formal sector’s potential by turning to informal activities. the extremely limited economic opportunities—coupled with low standards of living, with most haitians living on less than us$1.25 per day—have prompted many haitians to seek work in the dominican republic, with most immigrants and their descendants working in dominican sugar, coffee, and cocoa plantations, construction, and the domestic sector. q3: why does the constitutional court’s ruling matter, and what are its likely implications? a3: the united nations defines nationality as one of the most basic human rights, and it is this issue that is most central to this new controversy. last month’s ruling by the dominican constitutional court deprives the children of undocumented immigrants of this right—and, subsequently, of access to the social services they would be entitled to as citizens: health care, employment, and education. moreover, it makes these stateless individuals vulnerable to exploitation. in addition to complicating the political situation in the dominican republic, the ruling will also give rise to major economic challenges. without haitian immigrants and their descendants, the dominican republic faces the prospect of massive labor shortages in the agriculture, manufacturing, and service sectors. the haitian labor force has provided the needed cheap labor to sustain dominican agriculture. haitian labor has also proven pivotal in other sectors of the dominican economy—among them commerce, construction, and tourism—given their demand for low-cost labor. while many dominicans accuse haitian workers of taking jobs away from native dominicans, these immigrants and their children often accept hazardous, poorly compensated positions that dominican employers struggle to fill. and even if the haitian labor force, by providing cheap labor, has kept wage rates low, the industries they fuel—and, as a result, dominican productivity—would suffer without them. these dominican industries are able to compete in the global economy in part because of low production costs. an exodus of haitian labor would only jeopardize the dominican republic’s prosperity moving forward. conclusion: although many in the international community have condemned the ruling, it cannot be appealed. the dominican republic now faces the political challenge of figuring out what will become of the 210,000 dominican-born people of haitian descent—who, according to dominican law, are now neither haitian nor dominican citizens. while members of the government have pointed out that this group can still apply for haitian citizenship through jus sanguinis, critics counter that most lack ties to haiti, or even speak the language. for many, living in haiti is not a realistic option. ultimately, this ruling has only highlighted what was already clear: there is a real need for a comprehensive dominican state policy to deal with its relationship with haiti—and such a policy will only prove successful if its underpinning addresses the challenges and opportunities the two countries face moving forward. though their relationship has long been one characterized by tension and hostility, haiti and the dominican republic have too much in common—and, thus, too much to lose—to remain at odds. their shared development, economic, and security concerns, among others, are key to the two countries’ future cooperation. the situation is in many ways analogous to our ongoing debate over mexican immigration here in the united states. as with our relationship with mexico, if the dominican government hopes to move forward in its relations with its closest neighbor, it cannot avoid retooling its perspective. by focusing on the countries’ interdependence and the prosperity both stand to gain should they cooperate, dominicans and haitians face a real opportunity. will they seize it? carl meacham is director of the americas program at the center for strategic and international studies (csis) in washington, d.c. laura solano, intern scholar with the csis americas program, provided research assistance. critical questions is produced by the center for strategic and international studies (csis), a private, tax-exempt institution focusing on international public policy issues. its research is nonpartisan and nonproprietary. csis does not take specific policy positions. accordingly, all views, positions, and conclusions expressed in this publication should be understood to be solely those of the author(s). © 2013 by the center for strategic and international studies. all rights reserved. carl meacham media queries contact h. andrew schwartz chief communications officer tel: 202.775.3242 contact caleb diamond media relations manager and editorial associate tel: 202.775.3173 related americas program, caribbean footer menu * topics * regions * programs * experts * events * analysis * web projects * podcasts * ideas lab * transcripts * about us * support us contact csis email csis tel: 202.887.0200 fax: 202.775.3199 visit csis headquarters 1616 rhode island avenue, nw washington, dc 20036 media queries contact h. andrew schwartz chief communications officer tel: 202.775.3242 contact caleb diamond media relations manager and editorial associate tel: 202.775.3173 daily updates sign up to receive the evening, a daily brief on the news, events, and people shaping the world of international affairs. subscribe to csis newsletters follow csis * facebook * twitter * linkedin * youtube * instagram all content © 2021. all rights reserved. legal menu * credits * privacy policy * reprint permissions worldsstateless.org [instituteonstatelessnessandinclusion.png] about the institute our “world’s stateless” reports navigating the site × stateless persons in europe regional standards europe’s ‘refugee crisis’ growing engagement by the european union country profiles the european network on statelessness (ens) - from chris nash table of contents stateless persons in europe statelessness affects around 600,000 people in europe today. most can trace their situation back to the political upheaval of the 1990s, in particular the dissolution of the union of soviet socialist republics (ussr), but also the breakup of yugoslavia. indeed, over 80% of the total reported stateless population in europe live in just four countries, all successor states of the soviet union: latvia, the russian federation, estonia and ukraine. the numbers affected in each of these countries continue to decline. nevertheless, a quarter of a century after state succession took place, nearly half a million people remain stateless in these four states. in the six states to emerge from the socialist federal republic of yugoslavia, a total of almost 10,000 stateless persons are reported and others remain at risk of statelessness due to lack of key forms of documentation. across europe, the other main context in which statelessness arises is migration. in some cases, people who were already stateless in their country of origin arrive in europe within the mixed migration flows, as migrants, trafficking victims or refugees. in other cases, people may experience citizenship problems and become stateless following their arrival, due to the loss or deprivation of nationality while they are away from their country. with the mass influx in 2015 of migrants and refugees into europe, the number of stateless persons in some receiving states has grown significantly. for instance, in sweden, the reported figure for stateless persons in the country climbed from 20,450 at the end of 2013 to 31,062 at the end of 2015. moreover, children born in europe to migrant or refugee parents can sometimes be exposed to statelessness as a result of discriminatory nationality laws of the country of origin or a conflict of nationality laws. the nationality laws of many european states have been found to fail to adequately protect children born on their territory from statelessness. in september 2015, the report ‘no child should be stateless’ demonstrated that more than half of european parties to relevant international conventions have not properly implemented their obligations to ensure that all stateless children born in the country acquire a nationality . the same report also highlighted how other factors, such as child abandonment, international surrogacy or cross-border adoption, and systemic birth registration obstacles for particular groups are also producing statelessness in europe. statelessness in europe is more comprehensively mapped than in any other region: unhcr has statistical data on statelessness for 42 out of the 50 countries that fall within the scope of their european regional bureau. the total figure reported by unhcr for persons under its statelessness mandate in europe as part of its statistical reporting at the end of 2015 is 592.151 persons. latvia and the russian federation have stateless populations of over 100,000 persons within their territory. stateless populations in estonia, ukraine, sweden, germany and poland all exceed 10.000 individuals. table x: countries in europe with over 10.000 stateless persons latvia 252.195 russian federation 101.813 estonia 85.301 ukraine 35.228 sweden 31.062 germany 12.569 poland 10.852 __________________________________________________________________ @institute_si rt @bronwenmanby: illustrating how human rights advocacy is often a very long game... and the the fight to get the netherlands to end #stat… rt @enstatelessness: in its first-ever decision on the right to nationality, the un human rights committee calls on the netherlands to enac… here's our analysis of the measure and why we believe making this power permanent is not a good idea:… twitter.com/i/web/status/1… public consultation now open on a draft bill that would make permanent the power to strip a dual citizen of their d… twitter.com/i/web/status/1… @bronwenmanby @ktonkiss @phillcole40 @ehayesdekalaf @drkellystaples @profdprabhat @julijasardelic and the short ref… twitter.com/i/web/status/1… contact e-mail: info@institutesi.org socialmedia [twitter-icon.png] [facebook-icon.png] © 2017 institute on statelessness and inclusion | restrictions apply webdesign by robiz.nl webdesign tilburg menu fermer ____________________ (button) * page d'accueil * covid-19 * culture * économie * éducation * environnement * international * politique + société * santé * science * mondes francophones * en anglais éditions [france_____________] the conversation * * édition: éditions disponibles france * africa * australia * canada * canada (français) * españa * global perspectives * indonesia * new zealand * united kingdom * united states * faire un don * recevoir la newsletter * devenir un auteur * s’abonner comme lecteur * connexion the conversation recherchez ____________________ (recherche) l’expertise universitaire, l’exigence journalistique 1. covid-19 2. culture 3. économie 4. éducation 5. environnement 6. international 7. politique + société 8. santé 9. science 10. mondes francophones 11. en anglais bruno domingos/reuters ‘we are taboo everywhere’: how lgbtiq+ people, and their children, become stateless 13 août 2020, 03:27 cest thomas mcgee, university of melbourne auteur 1. thomas mcgee phd researcher, peter mcmullin centre on statelessness, university of melbourne déclaration d’intérêts thomas mcgee ne travaille pas, ne conseille pas, ne possède pas de parts, ne reçoit pas de fonds d'une organisation qui pourrait tirer profit de cet article, et n'a déclaré aucune autre affiliation que son organisme de recherche. partenaires university of melbourne university of melbourne apporte des fonds en tant que membre fondateur de the conversation au. voir les partenaires de the conversation france * adresse électronique * twitter * facebook * linkedin * whatsapp * messenger no child should be denied her rights because her parents are lgbtiq+, and no family should have to endure the indignity we did. these are the words of roee and adiel kiviti, a same-sex married couple who recently won a legal challenge against the us department of state for refusing to consider their daughter an american citizen. both men are us citizens, but their daughter was born in canada through surrogacy. the state department considers such children of same-sex couples to be “born out of wedlock”, irrespective of the marital status of the parents. for the kivitis, this meant their daughter was denied the automatic citizenship normally granted to the children of us citizens. this isn’t just a singular case. for many children born to same-sex couples through international surrogacy, there is a risk they could become stateless — unable to gain citizenship in the country where they were born, or their parents’ home countries. (button) immigration equality, an lgbtiq+ immigrant rights organisation in the us, says there is a new double standard for citizenship: one for the children of gay couples and one for the children of straight couples. what does statelessness mean? statelessness is defined under international law as not being recognised as a citizen by any of the world’s 195 recognised states. according to the un’s conservative estimate, there are some 12 million stateless people globally. in practical terms, stateless people face many challenges due to their lack of citizenship. while these differ significantly from one context to the next, common experiences include the inability to access vital services (such as education and health care), move freely, own property and simply prove one’s identity. cases like the kivitis’ daughter have brought high-profile attention to the risk of statelessness associated with lgbtiq+ parenting situations. similar cases have been compiled by campaigners in europe, where litigation is also underway. an irish-polish lesbian couple, for instance, gave birth to a daughter through ivf in spain in 2018. the girl, sofia, is currently stateless because neither woman’s country will recognise her right to citizenship. her spanish citizenship is still pending. and before international commercial surrogacy arrangements were banned in india and thailand, the children of many same-sex couples born in these countries were at risk of statelessness. however, statelessness is also a problem that lgbtiq+ people themselves may face. my recently published research has identified scores of stateless lgbtiq+ people around the world. __________________________________________________________________ à lire aussi : a year since the marriage equality vote, much has been gained – and there is still much to be done __________________________________________________________________ stateless lgbtiq+ people face double marginalisation eliana rubashkyn. wikimedia commons why do we hear so little about their experiences? indeed, this was the question that motivated me to study the links between statelessness and sexual orientation, gender identity and expression, and sex characteristics (relating to a person’s physical sexual anatomy). having worked on statelessness for the last decade, i have attended many conferences with little consideration given to lgbtiq+ people. in contrast, much research has been conducted on the experiences of lgbtiq+ refugees and asylum seekers. as eliana rubashkyn, an intersex person from colombia who experienced years of statelessness before receiving asylum and citizenship in new zealand, explained to me: nobody talks about our case because we are taboo everywhere. yet it is a chronic violation of human rights. my research highlights that stateless lgbtiq+ people often face a significant double marginalisation. they are discriminated because of their sexuality or gender expression, as well as their lack of documentation. __________________________________________________________________ à lire aussi : what does an asylum seeker have to do to prove their sexuality? __________________________________________________________________ for example, one stateless queer man in lebanon described fears of being arrested on grounds of public immorality (a common charge against the lgbtiq+ community) and lacking the necessary paperwork to establish his identity. while he is not the only stateless person in his family (due to gender discrimination in lebanese citizenship law), the risks are compounded in his case. it goes without saying that being stateless can also make any problem i encounter due to my sexual orientation and gender identity much worse. and vice versa. while no statistics are available, for some lgbtiq+ people, discrimination is what caused them to become stateless in the first place. they can lose their citizenship due to complex laws that do not recognise lgbtiq+ marriages and relationships across countries. there is also a patchwork of different laws recognising sex and gender transitions, which can be especially problematic for trans and intersex individuals. this was the case for rubashkyn, who no longer resembled her passport photo following hormone treatment and became stranded in hong kong’s airport six years ago. desperate to prevent officials from deporting her back to colombia, where she had suffered persecution, she ultimately renounced her colombian citizenship, making herself stateless. she was later resettled in new zealand and gained citizenship in 2018. asylum requests are often denied within asylum contexts, research shows both statelessness and lgbtiq+ situations are often missed or misunderstood during the process of assessing claims for protection. for instance, one transsexual interviewee from my research explained the various intersecting elements of my narrative seemed to confuse the asylum officials who wanted to understand my experience through a singular lens. i tried to explain but they did not appear convinced. the lack of attention paid to “rainbow statelessness” in the media and policy debates may further lead governments to question the credibility of statements made by stateless lgbtiq+ asylum seekers. this is why it’s critical to bring more attention to the links between statelessness and sexual orientation or gender identity. better understanding this intersection is necessary to improve laws and policies that discriminate against lgbtiq+ people, and sometimes render them, or their children, stateless. __________________________________________________________________ à lire aussi : so much for dutch tolerance: life as an lgbt asylum seeker in the netherlands __________________________________________________________________ * citizenship * asylum * surrogacy * gay rights * lgbtiq * statelessness notre audience the conversation a une audience mensuelle de 18 millions de lecteurs et une audience globale de 42 millions à travers les republications sous la licence creative commons. vous voulez écrire ? écrivez un article et rejoignez une communauté de plus de 119 300 universitaires et chercheurs de 3 842 institutions. enregistrez-vous maintenant * charte de participation * règles de republication * amis de the conversation * événements * nos flux * faites un don * ce que nous sommes * notre charte * notre équipe * transparence financière * nos membres et partenaires * pour les médias * promouvoir the conversation * contactez-nous * * * ​ * ​ politique de confidentialité conditions générales corrections mentions légales droits d'auteur © 2010–2021, the conversation france (assoc. 1901) #publisher alternate alternate alternate (button) discover thomson reuters directory of siteslogincontactsupport for-phone-onlyfor-tablet-portrait-upfor-tablet-landscape-upfor-desktop- upfor-wide-desktop-up apac updated uzbekistan ends plight of thousands of stateless people with landmark law by emma batha 3 min read (button) (button) london (thomson reuters foundation) - uzbekistan is to allow tens of thousands of stateless people to become citizens under a new law hailed by the united nations, which urged other countries to follow suit in ending the plight of some of the world’s most invisible people. “this is a huge development and we hope it will set a precedent for other countries,” shabia mantoo, a spokewoman for the u.n. refugee agency (unhcr) said on thursday. the central asian country has more than 97,000 stateless people - one of the largest stateless populations in the world. globally, an estimated 10 to 15 million people are not recognised as nationals of any country. many are deprived of basic rights such as education and healthcare, and are at risk of exploitation and detention. in central asia, hundreds of thousands of people fell through the cracks after the break-up of the soviet union in the 1990s when they could not acquire nationality from any successor states. the new law in uzbekistan, which came into effect this month, will enable an estimated 50,000 people to acquire citizenship. many others are expected to benefit when simplified naturalisation procedures are introduced in september. the unhcr launched an ambitious campaign called #ibelong in 2014 to end statelessness in a decade. hollywood star cate blanchett threw her weight behind the drive last year. experts on statelessness say xenophobia and populism are complicating efforts to meet the 2024 deadline, and there has been little progress on finding solutions for big stateless populations like the rohingya in myanmar and bangladesh. but mantoo told the thomson reuters foundation that many countries in central asia were making “tremendous progress”. kyrgyzstan made history last year when it became the first country in the world to end statelessness. in tajikistan, an amnesty introduced this year will allow thousands of stateless people to obtain residence permits, providing a potential route to citizenship in three years. u.n. officials believe turkmenistan and kazakhstan could also meet the 2024 deadline. stateless people often say they feel heavily stigmatised and forgotten. even buying a sim card, getting a driving licence, opening a bank account or getting married can be impossible. mantoo said acquiring a nationality was “a life-changing experience” for a stateless person. “it affects everything from their legal status to their physical and emotional wellbeing. it’s something so important to the human condition - the right to belong and feel included.” reporting by emma batha @emmabatha; editing by katy migiro. please credit the thomson reuters foundation, the charitable arm of thomson reuters, which covers the lives of people around the world who struggle to live freely or fairly. visit news.trust.org our standards: the thomson reuters trust principles. * apps * newsletters * advertise with us * advertising guidelines * cookies * terms of use * privacy * do not sell my personal information (button) (button) all quotes delayed a minimum of 15 minutes. see here for a complete list of exchanges and delays. © 0 reuters. all rights reserved. for-phone-onlyfor-tablet-portrait-upfor-tablet-landscape-upfor-desktop- upfor-wide-desktop-up iframe: https://www.googletagmanager.com/ns.html?id=gtm-p2f4r8c wrong site? we have redirected you to a site for your country, if this was not correct, please use the link to go back. go back hide * press room * corporate partners * careers * tenders * contact us * norwegian ____________________ (button) search 0 support us search (button) menu (button) * who we are + o about us o our impact o accountability o innovation o finances + o work with us o leadership o secretary general jan egeland o corporate partnerships o partners and donors * what we do nrc works to protect the rights of displaced and vulnerable persons during crisis. read more about us. + o activities in the field o camp management o education o information, counselling and legal assistance o livelihoods and food security o shelter and settlements o water, sanitation and hygiene promotion + o themes in the field o strengthening protection o preserving the environment o addressing gender issues o cash-based interventions o supporting youth + o speaking up for rights o internal displacement o humanitarian access o humanitarian principles o urban displacement o housing, land and property rights o disaster and climate change * where we work + o africa # burkina faso # cameroon # central african republic # djibouti # dr congo # eritrea # ethiopia # kenya # libya # mali # niger # nigeria # somalia # south sudan # sudan # tanzania # uganda + o americas # colombia # ecuador # el salvador # honduras # panama # venezuela o asia # afghanistan # bangladesh # myanmar + o europe # ukraine o middle east # iran # iraq # jordan # lebanon # palestine # syria # yemen + o representation offices o head office - oslo o nrc europe - brussels o nrc flüchtlingshilfe - berlin o nrc geneva o nrc uk - london o nrc usa - washington, dc * norcap norcap is a global provider of expertise to the humanitarian, development and peacebuilding sectors. we build partnerships with international organisations and national actors to protect lives, rights and livelihoods. norcap is a part of the norwegian refugee council. nrc.no/norcap + o about norcap o what we do o our expertise o how to join norcap o stories from the field + o partners and donors o how to request experts o resources o contact o member login + o nordem * news * resources * press room * corporate partners * careers * tenders * contact us * norwegian [svg+xml;charset=utf-8,%3csvg xmlns%3d'http%3a%2f%2fwww.w3.org%2f2000%2fsvg' viewbox%3d'0 0 600 200'%2f%3e] read caption hana, mother of seven children, fled hawija in 2017 as the iraqi government retook the city, one of the last remaining is strongholds, to a displacement camp in kirkuk governorate. intelligence officials confiscated her civil documentation after she arrived in the camp. "my husband joined is while the group was in control, but he died in an airstrike with my eldest son in 2017," she says. now she and her children are alone and unable to leave the camp, barred from attending school and denied access to healthcare and social welfare. photo: tom peyre-costa/nrc * name was changed for protection concerns. new report: 45,000 children may become stateless in post-is iraq published 30. apr 2019|edited 29. apr 2019 iraq an estimated 45,000 displaced children in camps are missing civil documentation and may face total exclusion from iraqi society: barred from attending school, denied access to healthcare and deprived of their most basic rights, the norwegian refugee council warns today in a new report. “we face a possible human time-bomb. allowing these children to have an education, healthcare, simply the right to exist, is key to ensuring a sustainable future for them and for the country,” said jan egeland, secretary general of the norwegian refugee council. “a society cannot be at peace if it allows a generation of stateless children in its midst.” the report ‘barriers from birth’ found that children born under is rule were issued birth certificates by the group that are considered invalid in the eyes of the iraqi government. others lost their documentation as they fled. without a valid birth certificate, one health official reported that newborns are unable to receive vaccinations in some areas, raising fears of new diseases. children’s enrolment in iraqi schools also requires id. sitting exams or obtaining graduation certificates is often not allowed without civil documentation. as they reach adulthood, these children risk being denied state recognized marriages, owning property or even being formally employed. the chance of obtaining civil documentation is nearly impossible for children from families accused of is affiliation, resulting in the collective punishment of thousands of innocent children. “children are not responsible for crimes committed by their relatives, yet many are denied their basic rights as iraqi citizens,” said egeland. the number of undocumented children will increase significantly in the coming weeks with the expected return of more than 30,000 iraqis from syria, 90 per cent of whom are wives and children with suspected ties to is militants. as the iraqi government and the international community continue to invest in restoring public services and institutions, it is critical to ensure communities most affected by the conflict with is — many of whom are children — have the documents required to benefit from these services. this will guarantee iraq’s road to recovery and reconstruction. “undocumented children risk remaining left on the margins of society if this issue is not addressed immediately. this seriously undermines future prospects of reconciliation efforts,” egeland added. “we urge the government to ensure that undocumented children have the right to exist like any other iraqi citizen.” for editors: * the full report ‘barriers from birth: undocumented children in iraq sentenced to a life on the margins’ can be downloaded here. * photos and b-roll can be downloaded for free use and distribution. key facts and figures: * 1,7 million iraqis are still displaced, including around 450,000 in camps. * an estimated 870,000 children are still displaced across iraq including 225,000 in camps. * it can take between 6 month – 2 years to obtain/retrieve civil documentation for children born under is rule. * nrc has helped issue nearly 8,000 legal identity and civil documents for children affected by the conflict with is in iraq since 2016. * about 80,000 households across iraq may have family members missing at least one form of id. the total number of children may be even higher. * the most complicated cases— children whose parents are undocumented, are on one of the government’s security databases or are perceived to be affiliated with is—are almost impossible to help. nrc legal teams receive on average 170 requests for help from cases like this each month across the country. related news iraq | 09. nov 2020 iraq’s camp closures leave 100,000 people in limbo press release: the ongoing rapid closure of displacement camps in iraq is rendering homeless more than 100,000 people in the middle of the covid-19 pandemic and at the onset of winter. [svg+xml;charset=utf-8,%3csvg xmlns%3d'http%3a%2f%2fwww.w3.org%2f2000%2fsvg' viewbox%3d'0 0 600 200'%2f%3e] iraq | 11. may 2020 iraqi women denied their property by relatives, tribes and militias hundreds of thousands of iraqi women displaced by war remain unable to return to their homes because of systemic injustices that prevent them from proving or claiming ownership of their property. [svg+xml;charset=utf-8,%3csvg xmlns%3d'http%3a%2f%2fwww.w3.org%2f2000%2fsvg' viewbox%3d'0 0 600 200'%2f%3e] iraq|syria | 17. dec 2019 refugees fleeing turkey’s north east syria operation say they can’t go back – nrc survey the majority of refugees fleeing from turkey’s military operation in north east syria say they won’t return to their country, and plan on settling in iraq. contact us norwegian refugee council prinsensgate 2 (map) 0152 oslo norway customer service: fundraising@nrc.no privacy policy about our use of cookies switchboard: +47 23 10 98 00 general inquiries: nrc@nrc.no expert deployments: norcap@nrc.no about the website: webmaster@nrc.no countries in focus syria south sudan yemen afghanistan iraq issues in focus climate change and displacement housing, land and property rights urban displacement cash & vouchers shortcuts about us careers reports procurements camp management toolkit heat security training [pai2.svg] 90% over 90 per cent of nrc’s income is channelled to our work with people forced to flee. #medium alternate we the peoples sign in we the peoples five reasons why you should care about statelessness if we don’t work to ensure that everyone in europe and the world has a nationality, this purely man-made problem will continue to be passed from one generation to the next. un refugee agency un refugee agency (button) follow dec 4, 2017 · 5 min read (button) (button) (button) image for post image for post image for post nuzret hodzic, a stateless man living in montenegro, says that without a nationality he feels like a shadow. © unhcr/nena lukina by: aikaterini kitidi at a recent meeting in the european parliament, a cross-party group of parliamentarians called on member states and the european commission to do away with a social injustice affecting thousands of people in the western balkans: the lack of birth certificates and nationality for roma children and adults, which has a devastating impact on their daily lives. the problem is of grave concern not only to the roma, but also to other stateless people in europe, whose number rises to hundreds of thousands. statelessness creates a chasm between them and the wider community, threatening the cohesion of our society as a whole. if we don’t work to ensure that everyone in europe and the world has a nationality, this purely man-made problem will continue to be passed from one generation to the next. here are five key reasons why statelessness should constitute an ever-present concern. 1. by the time you finish reading this post, another child may be born without a nationality every day, children are born without a nationality, through no fault of their own. countries across the globe report 3.2 million stateless people on their territories — but their true number could even be three times higher. the main reason behind their statelessness is discrimination. most people are denied a nationality due to their histories, their looks, their language or their faith. exclusion and persecution often describe the existence of the world’s stateless populations. “you’re a shadow here… just a shadow. you pass by and no one sees you. you have no rights. like a man living normally, just walking and working, and all of a sudden he loses a leg. and then, he is disabled. this is what this situation has done to me,” said nuzret hodzic, a stateless man living in montenegro. 2. statelessness may affect people in your community or country from scandinavia to the black sea, hundreds of thousands of people live without nationality in europe. a large number of people became stateless after the dissolution of the soviet union. more than 20 years later, statelessness remains a concern in that part of europe. in addition, in the states that once made up yugoslavia, groups of people fell through the cracks of the new legislation, becoming stateless. though many have managed to establish their nationality, members of minority groups, especially roma, continue to face difficulties. in many countries across the continent, gaps in nationality laws continue to create statelessness at birth and later in life. stateless people are not asking for special treatment. they are only asking for equal treatment these stateless people are not asking for special treatment. they are only asking for equal treatment — the chance to have the same opportunities as all citizens. “one day, i presented my stateless document to the bank. they asked me ‘where is this country “stateless” located?’”, explained anastasia trevogin, a formerly stateless woman living in france. 3. statelessness can take away basic rights that most of us take for granted statelessness is not just the lack of nationality: it can mean a life without education or medical care. it can mean a life without the ability to move freely, without prospects or hope. the inability to secure documentation can deprive people from legal or sustainable employment, and from obtaining licenses or loans. thus it can trap them in an unending cycle of poverty, making them vulnerable to exploitation and increasing anxiety for their physical safety and security. nino, a stateless young woman from georgia, saw her dreams put on hold due to her lack of nationality: “i have been playing [the trombone] for years, but because i am stateless, i couldn’t continue my studies at the conservatory to have a profession that i dream of. the only job which i can have with my current status is being a babysitter.” 4. statelessness is a key aspect of the fastest-growing refugee emergency of our time statelessness has deep links to some of the world’s most pressing global emergencies, like the myanmar crisis, driving over 600,000 rohingya to bangladesh. born and raised in myanmar for multiple generations, the rohingya know no other place to call home. denial of citizenship is a key aspect of the entrenched discrimination and exclusion that have shaped their plight for decades. here are some key moments in the first 100 days of the myanmar crisis. the syria conflict is another crisis where we see links between forced displacement and risks of statelessness. a 2014 assessment found that the conflict has left many women without their husbands and many times without a marriage certificate which puts their children at risk of statelessness, as syrian children born outside syria as refugees can only acquire nationality through their fathers. adults also face the risk of statelessness when their documentation is lost, destroyed or confiscated due to the conflict or displacement. although the majority of stateless people in europe were born in the region, there are also stateless migrants and refugees who have come from other areas with known stateless populations, including syria, afghanistan, cote d’ivoire and iraq. 5. it is up to your governments to end this injustice it is governments that establish who their nationals are, and governments can change their laws and procedures, to give stateless people a place to belong. together with regional institutions, civil society and the stateless people themselves, they should join forces in order to find effective solutions. the ultimate solution to statelessness is the granting of nationality. but until this is achieved, it is important that stateless people enjoy their basic human rights, allowing them to live in dignity. in order to achieve this, governments in europe should ensure that: * stateless persons or persons whose citizenship is undetermined acquire or confirm their citizenship. * no child is born stateless by granting citizenship automatically at birth to all children born in europe who are otherwise stateless. * all children born in europe are registered at birth regardless of their parents’ nationality, documentation or legal status so that every child’s legal identity is established and the risk of statelessness is reduced. * stateless migrants are identified and protected and the naturalization of stateless migrants and refugees is facilitated. * all european countries are parties to both un statelessness conventions. aikaterini kitidi is a communications officer at unhcr. click here for more information on how to take action to end statelessness. this article was originally published by euronews. we the peoples voices from around the united nations, with updates on… (button) follow (button) 114 (button) * refugees (button) 114 claps (button) 114 claps (button) (button) (button) (button) un refugee agency written by un refugee agency (button) follow the official account of unhcr. follow us as we provide vital aid and protection to the forcibly displaced around the world. (button) follow we the peoples we the peoples (button) follow voices from around the united nations, with updates on digital diplomacy, peace, security, human rights and sustainable development. (button) follow un refugee agency written by un refugee agency (button) follow the official account of unhcr. follow us as we provide vital aid and protection to the forcibly displaced around the world. we the peoples we the peoples (button) follow voices from around the united nations, with updates on digital diplomacy, peace, security, human rights and sustainable development. more from medium can austerity britain survive a no deal brexit? joshua robinson [1*dw1zlk2_zyyh9e8ag8alpw.jpeg?q=20] [1*dw1zlk2_zyyh9e8ag8alpw.jpeg?q=20] [1*dw1zlk2_zyyh9e8ag8alpw.jpeg] what is the space force? the millennial source in age of awareness [1*pebr5qbyrj43dlxmoucnha.jpeg?q=20] [1*pebr5qbyrj43dlxmoucnha.jpeg?q=20] [1*pebr5qbyrj43dlxmoucnha.jpeg] why libraries and brexit are two ends of the same stick bjørn ihler [1*bw4r7y3qgdtawrvvqmutua.jpeg?q=20] [1*bw4r7y3qgdtawrvvqmutua.jpeg?q=20] [1*bw4r7y3qgdtawrvvqmutua.jpeg] leaked report: 1,670 catholic german priests sexually abuse hundreds of altar boys citizen truth staff in citizen truth [0*60isapw44ifpk2ro.jpg?q=20] [0*60isapw44ifpk2ro.jpg?q=20] [0*60isapw44ifpk2ro.jpg] in turkey, mothers’ quest for justice exposes political hypocrisy abdullah ayasun [1*ukstttjnn86mi9ic_tvqmg.jpeg?q=20] [1*ukstttjnn86mi9ic_tvqmg.jpeg?q=20] [1*ukstttjnn86mi9ic_tvqmg.jpeg] the slum life our life logs [0*fdim7xhlxcozfuzl.?q=20] [0*fdim7xhlxcozfuzl.?q=20] [0*fdim7xhlxcozfuzl.] entrepreneurs in north korea? not as rare as you would think bloomberg in bloomberg [1*ilcugr6nhdx1kvx9ya-wcq.jpeg?q=20] [1*ilcugr6nhdx1kvx9ya-wcq.jpeg?q=20] [1*ilcugr6nhdx1kvx9ya-wcq.jpeg] electricity does not change poor lives as much as was thought the economist [1*lqiqrduqsp0vo9bwyk15sw.jpeg?q=20] [1*lqiqrduqsp0vo9bwyk15sw.jpeg?q=20] [1*lqiqrduqsp0vo9bwyk15sw.jpeg] learn more. medium is an open platform where 170 million readers come to find insightful and dynamic thinking. here, expert and undiscovered voices alike dive into the heart of any topic and bring new ideas to the surface. learn more make medium yours. follow the writers, publications, and topics that matter to you, and you’ll see them on your homepage and in your inbox. explore share your thinking. if you have a story to tell, knowledge to share, or a perspective to offer — welcome home. it’s easy and free to post your thinking on any topic. write on medium about help legal get the medium app a button that says 'download on the app store', and if clicked it will lead you to the ios app store a button that says 'get it on, google play', and if clicked it will lead you to the google play store [p?c1=2&c2=6035250&cv=2.0&cj=1&cs_ucfr=0&comscorekw=australian+immigrat ion+and+asylum%2crefugees%2ciran%2caustralian+politics%2caustralia+news %2cmigration%2cmental+health] international edition [ ] * international edition * uk edition * us edition * australian edition the guardian - back to home search jobs sign insearch [ ] * news * opinion * sport * culture * lifestyle showmoreshow more * [ ] news + coronavirus + world news + uk news + environment + science + global development + football + tech + business + obituaries * [ ] opinion + the guardian view + columnists + cartoons + opinion videos + letters * [ ] sport + football + cricket + rugby union + tennis + cycling + f1 + golf + us sports * [ ] culture + books + music + tv & radio + art & design + film + games + classical + stage * [ ] lifestyle + fashion + food + recipes + love & sex + health & fitness + home & garden + women + men + family + travel + money * make a contribution * subscribe * search jobs * holidays * digital archive * guardian puzzles app * the guardian app * video * podcasts * pictures * newsletters * today's paper * inside the guardian * the observer * guardian weekly * crosswords * search jobs * holidays * digital archive * guardian puzzles app * australia * coronavirus * world * au politics * environment * football * indigenous australia * immigration * media * business * science * tech australian immigration and asylum 'they are breaking him': the stateless refugee australia may never release asylum seekers on a boat near christmas island [ ] asylum seekers on a boat near christmas island. gulistan and her son, akam, left indonesia for the island in 2013. photograph: josh jerga/aap asylum seekers on a boat near christmas island. gulistan and her son, akam, left indonesia for the island in 2013. photograph: josh jerga/aap akam* has not known a day of liberty since arriving on christmas island in 2013 aged 16 ben doherty ben doherty @bendohertycorro tue 3 jul 2018 19.00 bst [ ] last modified on tue 3 jul 2018 19.01 bst * * * on the quiet shores of an indonesian island half a decade ago, gulistan* packed her young son into a leaky boat for the journey over the horizon to australia: seeking a place, finally, they might call home. gulistan and her 16-year-old son, akam*, had been running months already, having fled iran, where their ethnic minority, the faili kurds, have faced generations of systematic and unremitting persecution. in iran, faili kurds are regarded as iraqi interlopers, forced over the border by saddam hussein’s ba’athist regime, and left isolated by the brutal war between the two countries in the 1980s. in the decades since, many faili have eked out an existence at the margins of iranian society – denied citizenship or basic human rights, healthcare or education. the precariousness of gulistan’s family’s situation was compounded by her son suffering a developmental disorder, and mental health issues exacerbated by the trauma of his father’s death. the family lost its “white” amayesh card, a system of refugee registration in iran, and with it the precious few rights they held. over the years, i have become more depressed and suffer from more anxiety akam as the net of iran’s security forces closed around her family, gulistan sought sanctuary for herself and her son elsewhere, a promise offered by a people smuggler’s boat to australia. after days at sea, they arrived on christmas island on 25 august 2013. since that day, akam has not known a day of liberty, and he faces the possibility of never being released, despite facing no criminal charges. “every day in that place, they are breaking him,” his mother tells guardian australia, holding back tears. “but my son deserves a chance at life.” gulistan’s campaign the bare facts make akam’s case straightforward: he is stateless – no country recognises him as its citizen – and he was quickly able to prove a well-founded fear of persecution in iran. australia recognised him as a refugee in 2016 and is legally obliged to protect him. akam cannot be forcibly returned to a place of harm. but his time in immigration detention has been traumatic, and difficult, blighted by mental health and related behavioural issues. in may 2014, while he was still a 17-year-old child, akam grew increasingly frustrated with the slow progression of his case. he lashed out at, and threatened, officers, and damaged property inside the perth immigration detention. he was charged with assault (including one count under circumstances of racial aggravation) and with damaging property. dying refugee receiving care at gold coast hospital after nauru move read more the offences were resolved by the western australian children’s court, which issued him a caution and noted “all criminal matters are finalised”. akam has not offended in adulthood. but those childhood charges continue to haunt him and affect his future. akam was issued with a “qualified security assessment” by asio. he is now 21 and faces indefinite incarceration in australia because he is deemed to have failed the department of immigration’s broadly defined character test. he is now more isolated than ever. behind the steel fences of villawood detention centre in sydney, he says he feels entirely alone. his mother has been granted a five-year safe haven visa and an older brother, who fled iran earlier and settled in australia, also lives in sydney. they visit as often as they can but gulistan’s deteriorating health means it is growing increasingly difficult for her to travel to see her son. “i have been in detention for a very long time,” akam says from the villawood centre, “almost five years, and i have never been allowed to live outside in the community. villawood detention centre akam is being held at villawood detention centre after fleeing iran, where the faili kurds have faced generations of persecution. photograph: daniel munoz/reuters “this experience has changed my life completely. over the years, i have become more depressed and suffer from more anxiety. i really don’t understand: the authorities don’t really care about refugees.” in meetings with case workers, healthcare workers, the commonwealth ombudsman and others, akam has repeatedly stressed his desire to return to school. during five years in australia, he has been housed between half a dozen detention centres in various cities. “when i arrived in australia, i had just started high school. my education has since been destroyed. i was moved around the country to different detention centres and was not offered any schooling for the first two years, even though i was only young. i was finally allowed to complete year 10 but have not been permitted to attend school since then.” he has found the strictures of detention cloying and chafed against its repetitive regulation. at one point serco guards were mandated to monitor him at arm’s length 24 hours a day. 'you hate us that much?' mother of refugee who killed himself on nauru berates australia read more he says he only wants a chance. “all i want is to be allowed out of detention so that i can contribute to australian society and help others. my dream is to become a scientist or politician but they are taking away my hope.” in a department of home affairs record of interview, he accepted his earlier behavioural issues. “i need to get out to live my life,” akam said. “i have said things whilst here but this was all due to the frustration of being in detention. i wouldn’t do any of the things talked about. in any event, i was a child when i said these things. “i want to live in australia, i will not be a threat to the australian community. i am a good person, i’ve done nothing wrong – all the incidents that have been recorded against me have not been my fault, other people have either made up stories or provoked me. “i don’t want to be an old man still in detention.” gulistan says the ongoing and indefinite detention is damaging her son. each time she visits, she finds him a little more diminished. “he is depressed, he is always asking me, ‘why did you bring us here, you only made life worse?’ he never eats, or he has one meal a day. and he is completely isolated, he is always alone in his room.” she says he has grown mistrustful and is finding it increasingly hard to relate to the world outside detention. “he says to me, ‘are people like this outside? are they like the guards here, or are they better?’” [akam] is a young, isolated and vulnerable person with detention fatigue commonwealth ombudsman gulistan campaigns furiously for her son: she visits mps’ offices and meets with lawyers and advocates working on his behalf. she drafts letters in support of his case and catches a slow bus to visit him. “his detention is like jail for all of us,” she says. “i am his mother and i will do anything to help him. but i can’t. and i feel helpless.” doctors have consistently said detention is harming akam and that his long period of high-security incarceration will make his integration into society increasingly difficult. akam has been diagnosed with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder and hyperkinetic conduct disorder, both of which are exacerbated by his detention, and he has been treated in hospital for suicidal ideation. an international health and medical services report from 2014 states: “the psychiatrist [who examined akam] advises that remaining in his current confined environment is exacerbating his mental health.” the commonwealth ombudsman has written three reports on akam’s incarceration, telling the australian government a solution must be found – in increasingly frank terms. tamil family members win injunction to prevent deportation to sri lanka read more the last report, tabled in parliament in october last year, said: “[akam] is a young, isolated and vulnerable person with detention fatigue, poor social skills, and impulsivity. international health and medical services reports that psychiatrists have continuously advised that [akam]’s ongoing detention is detrimental to his mental health and recommended that he be released into the community with mental health support and enrolment in an educational course such as tafe. “the ombudsman notes with concern the government’s duty of care to detainees and the serious risk to physical and mental health prolonged immigration detention may pose.” the immigration minister’s own department recommended, as long ago as june 2014 – after charges had been laid against akam – that he be allowed to live in the australian community. “there is no further information currently before the department that suggests this family would pose a threat to the australian community if placed in community detention,” the department wrote in a submission to the then minister, scott morrison. the recommendation was agreed to but then revoked before akam was released. correspondence from the department of immigration and border protection dated 2 december 2016 said akam’s case had been referred to the complex cancellations unit within the department (which is now the department of home affairs) and was being dealt with “as a matter of priority”. eighteen months later, no decision has been made, or appears imminent. the jetty on christmas island the jetty on christmas island. gulistan and akam spent days at sea before arriving on the island. photograph: john pryke/aap and the government has the power to hold him, potentially for the rest of his life. the 2004 al-kateb high court judgment found it was lawful to indefinitely detain a non-citizen who could not be removed from australia. subsequent governments have appeared anxious not to have the issue revisited by the court – no justices from al-kateb remain – and cases involving indefinite detention are often resolved just before they reach the bench. a home affairs spokesman said the department was aware of akam’s circumstance, “however cannot comment on individual cases”. “a non-citizen who does not hold a valid visa will be liable for immigration detention, including while their visa application is assessed against the character test. there are no time frames in which a decision ... must be made.” the spokesman said the time taken to make a decision on visas varies with the specific circumstances of each case but those in held detention are “progressed as a matter of priority”. we lock children up and then claim there are no children in detention, when the real reason is that they got old alison battisson, human rights for all “individuals in detention receive medical and specialist treatment commensurate with australian standards,” the spokesman said. the director of human rights for all, alison battisson, is one of the lawyers representing akam. she has taken his case to the united nations’ working group on arbitrary detention, which has consistently found australia’s indefinite detention of refugees and asylum seekers is unlawful. battisson says australia’s treatment of akam shows a total disregard for its obligations under international law. “we have signed a contract – the refugees convention – to protect people such as akam and, further, to treat them with dignity and respect. instead we lock children up and then claim there are no children in detention, when the real reason is that they got old.” the rigidity of australia’s immigration detention system – australia is one of the only countries on earth in which asylum seekers are mandatorily detained because of the way in which they arrived in the country – has led to people facing long-term, even limitless, detention, because of the government’s inability to resolve people’s migration status. 'you hate us that much?' mother of refugee who killed himself on nauru berates australia read more but battisson says akam’s situation is not complex and could be easily resolved. “a vulnerable young man arrived on our shores seeking asylum, as is his basic human right,” she says. “we locked him up. he then, very predictably, acted out. the government then used this teenage behaviour against him.” battison believes the department has targeted refugees and asylum seekers for character concern visa cancellations but has failed to allocate sufficient resources to deal with the cases, leaving adults and children languishing in detention. ‘we need to rebuild him’ in villawood, akam faces another day behind the steel fences: everywhere he goes noted, every conversation he has observed, every communication monitored. “i have been in detention for a very long time – all i want is to be allowed out.” outside his mother furiously campaigns: “can we give him his five years back? no. but my son needs to come out, and then we need to make him strong enough to be ok. we need to rebuild him.” • names have been changed for legal reasons. this story involves juvenile justice proceedings and health details of a child topics * australian immigration and asylum * refugees * iran * australian politics * migration * mental health * features * * * * * * * * reuse this content * australia * coronavirus * world * au politics * environment * football * indigenous australia * immigration * media * business * science * tech * news * opinion * sport * culture * lifestyle iframe: https://www.theguardian.com/email/form/footer/today-uk * contact us * complaints & corrections * securedrop * work for us * privacy policy * cookie policy * terms & conditions * help * all topics * all writers * digital newspaper archive * facebook * youtube * instagram * linkedin * twitter * newsletters * advertise with us * search uk jobs back to top © 2021 guardian news & media limited or its affiliated companies. all rights reserved. (modern) #asia times » feed asia times » comments feed alternate alternate alternate (button) close search for: ____________________ (button) search * china (button) + beijing + shanghai + guangzhou + wuhan + chengdu + chongqing + tianjin + taiwan + hong kong + macau + belt and road + greater bay area * ne asia (button) + japan + south korea + north korea * se asia (button) + brunei + cambodia + indonesia + laos + malaysia + myanmar + philippines + singapore + thailand + timor leste + vietnam * south asia (button) + india + pakistan + bangladesh + afghanistan + nepal + sri lanka + bhutan + maldives * middle east (button) + bahrain + cyprus + egypt + iran + iraq + israel + jordan + kuwait + united arab emirates + oman + palestine + qatar + saudi arabia + syria + turkey + lebanon + yemen + اللغة العربية * world (button) + australia + united states + canada + mexico + european union + united kingdom + france + germany + new zealand + spain + italy + sweden + brazil + russia * opinion (button) + china + business + hong kong + india + donald trump + philippines + southeast asia + podcast + politics * newsletters * membership (button) + subscribe + my account + asia times store + lost password + faq + at+ content archive + at+ commentary archive * atimescn * facebook * twitter * linkedin * rss (button) close skip to content asia times asia times covering geo-political news and current affairs across asia (button) menu (button) open search search for: ____________________ (button) search posted inopinion stateless rohingya more isolated than ever already in desperate straits, the sprawling rohingya diaspora has seen the crisis made even worse by the covid-19 pandemic by saqib sheikh september 25, 2020september 25, 2020 share this: rohingya walk near closed shops in an alley of a refugee camp during a government-imposed lockdown of cox's bazar district as a preventive measure against covid-19, in ukhia, bangladesh, on april 9, 2020. photo: afp / mohammad kalam along with being a major health risk, covid-19 has proved to be a massive economic shock to much of the world. for those communities at the margins, their underlying vulnerabilities have been exposed even further. this especially applies to the rohingya people, who are in the grips of one of their worst collective crises as a people. this august marked the third anniversary to the genocidal campaign conducted by the myanmar military against the rohingya people. the military strikes were designed to clear the rohingya people from their ancestral homeland of arakan (rakhine state) and resulted in more than 700,000 rohingya fleeing for their lives. most of these refugees ended up huddled in cox’s bazar in bangladesh. in 1982, the burmese military regime delisted the rohingya as an official ethnicity within the country, in effect stripping them of citizenship. since then, they have been gradually expelled from the country, an ethnic cleansing process that, sadly, has accelerated since the return of democracy to the country in 2011. they are now a stateless diaspora of more than 3 million people, scattered across countries such as saudi arabia, pakistan, india, thailand, malaysia, indonesia and bangladesh, where more than a million are currently stuck. the immediate covid-19 backlash faced by the rohingya was seen in malaysia. in april, two ships carrying rohingya refugees were turned away from the coast by the malaysian navy. this sparked a wave of xenophobia, particularly online, among many locals who took out their lockdown-induced anxiety on the hapless rohingya. they were quickly branded collectively as burdensome and ungrateful. several mosques and markets in the country began openly to bar rohingya from entry, which was especially surprising as malaysia has historically been known for its solidarity with the rohingya’s plight. similar nativist campaigns against the rohingya were also seen in saudi arabia. in cox’s bazar, the first covid-19 cases were seen in june and generated concern that the disease would spread like wildfire in the squalor of the camps where social distancing measures seem practically unenforceable. fortunately, the spread of the disease has thus far been contained to manageable levels thanks to proactive testing. friction between locals and rohingya refugees is also on the rise, however. in august, a shooting incident with alleged rohingya involvement sparked violent clashes in which houses and shops of rohingya were vandalized. it is estimated that since 2017, more than 100 rohingya in bangladesh have been been victims of extrajudicial killings, according to amnesty international. in the backdrop of rising tensions, the bangladeshi government is moving forward with a controversial plan to relocate many of the rohingya to the remote island of bhasan char, where a supposed 100,000 housing plots are to be created. this endeavor has caused a certain amount of unease and uncertainty among rohingya leaders, with human-rights organizations concerned that its conditions in the future could resemble a prison rather than a housing complex. with the solidarity of the rohingya in many muslim-majority countries being steadily eroded and with the material conditions of rohingya in these countries having severely worsened since the onset of the covid-19 crisis, this development paints a bleak picture. in the words of muhammad noor, director of the rohingya vision television station, “this situation has put a multitude of crises on the shoulders of rohingya beyond its capacity to endure. and we are facing isolation as a people as covid-19 has pushed the rohingya issue down the list of priorities for many countries as you would expect. we are a community with very few options left.” tagged: bhasan char island, cox's bazar, malaysia, myanmar, opinion, rohingya saqib sheikh saqib sheikh serves as project director of the rohingya project, a grassroots initiative for financial inclusion of stateless rohingya worldwide, as well as adviser/co-founder for the refugee coalition of malaysia, a network of 14 refugee communities based in malaysia. he received his master's in communication from purdue university in indiana. he currently lectures on media and communication at sunway university in malaysia. more by saqib sheikh top trending stories * china calculation: more rafale fighters bound for ladakh china calculation: more rafale fighters bound for ladakh * germany draws another line in the sand for biden germany draws another line in the sand for biden * trump's not-so-secret plan for containing china trump's not-so-secret plan for containing china * trump waves white flag at china’s tech titans trump waves white flag at china’s tech titans * is china's maglev train as fast as an airliner? is china's maglev train as fast as an airliner? * china's vaccine falls short of western-set standard china's vaccine falls short of western-set standard * campbell poised to 'pivot' us policy in asia campbell poised to 'pivot' us policy in asia * china's demographic time bomb quickly ticking down china's demographic time bomb quickly ticking down * kim promotes self, demotes sister in pyongyang power puzzle kim promotes self, demotes sister in pyongyang power puzzle * china launches digital yuan atms china launches digital yuan atms rss military & security * pyongyang unveils sub-launched missile at parade january 15, 2021 * china calculation: more rafale fighters bound for ladakh january 15, 2021 * hefty jail terms await some capitol rioters: experts january 13, 2021 * generals blast capitol attack; us confronts threat january 13, 2021 * with china, russia rapidly arming, clock is ticking on us navy january 12, 2021 * camo blues: it’s not easy being green, but try it january 12, 2021 * memo outlines pentagon planning before mob struck january 11, 2021 rss the chain * pakistani province turns to bitcoin january 14, 2021 * ecb chief calls for global bitcoin rules january 13, 2021 * fidelity pours more capital into hk crypto firm january 13, 2021 * digital euro could happen ‘within five years’: ecb chief january 13, 2021 * bitcoin is maturing as an asset: goldman sachs january 13, 2021 * china launches digital yuan atms january 12, 2021 * south korean bank backs digital-asset initiative january 12, 2021 * about us * contact us * advertise with us * write for us * terms of service * privacy policy © 2021 asia times. proudly powered by newspack by automattic privacy policy * facebook * twitter * linkedin * rss this site uses cookies this site, like many others, uses small files called cookies to help us improve and customize your experience. learn more about how we use cookies in our cookie policy. learn more about cookies (button) ok #big think (button) ____________________ * home * 13-8 * coronavirus * surprising science * personal growth * mind & brain * sex & relationships * technology & innovation * culture & religion * politics & current affairs * gear * videos * big think live * alchemist city * future of learning * thought fix * think again podcasts * sponsored by stand together * sponsored by pfizer * sponsored by charles koch foundation * sponsored by skoll foundation * sponsored by the institute for humane studies * sponsored by lumina foundation * sponsored by northwell health * sponsored by john templeton foundation * sponsored by yes. every kid. * sponsored by intel the nantucket project * sponsored by sofia gray * sponsored by creation crate * sponsored by kenzie academy * partnerships * digital transformation * log in iframe: https://www.googletagmanager.com/ns.html?id=gtm-ktmtmhf big think big think big think discover big think edge popularsurprising sciencepersonal growthmind & brainsex & relationshipstechnology & innovationculture & religionpolitics & current affairs follow us video trending personal growth what kids need most isn't parenting – it's parents videos why toxic relationships are so draining. and when to break them off. videos kids today are lacking these psychological nutrients see all videos > newsletters ____________________ (button) join edge sign in get smarter, faster. subscribe to our daily newsletter. ____________________ [x] ____________________ > there are 12 million stateless people in the world. who are they? without a country to belong to, many of these people lack some of the most fundamental rights. matt davis 26 august, 2019 statelessness shutterstock * according to the united nations high commissioner for refugees, the world is host to 12 million people who don't officially belong to any state. * people can become stateless through a variety of means, including racial discrimination, sexist nationality laws, voluntary choice, or bureaucratic accidents. * who are these millions of stateless individuals? what is life like for them? can their situation be solved? __________________________________________________________________ you can live in a country for your entire life, but due to some circumstance of your birth or political machinations outside of your control, you can be denied an education, healthcare, employment, legal rights, any kind of identification, and many other things that your peers may have access to. statelessness may live entirely in the realm of abstract bureaucracy, but it can have some very real and concrete impacts on your life. the united nations high commissioner for refugees (unhcr) reports that roughly 12 million people across the globe do not belong to any state. some gave up their statehood willingly, others had it taken away from them by a vindictive government, and others just never had statehood in the first place. how do people become stateless? often, statelessness arises due to the quirks of international law. for instance, many states offer citizenship based on either jus soli — where individuals born in a given nation acquire that nationality — jus sanguinis — where citizenship is inherited from one's parents — or some combination of the two. when these systems have cracks, sometimes the result can be statelessness. for instance, canada offers citizenship through jus sanguinis, but only for one generation. rachel chandler's father had been born in libya but was a canadian citizen due to canadian nationality laws. chandler was born in china to a chinese mother, but she was still ineligible for citizenship under chinese law. as a second-generation, foreign-born canadian, she was also ineligible for canadian citizenship, and thus became stateless. another major source of statelessness is due to sexism. twenty-five states also don't permit mothers to pass on their nationality in the same way that fathers can, as is the case in iran, qatar, and kuwait. when the father is stateless himself, unmarried to the mother, or has died, among other reasons, offspring in these countries suddenly find themselves without a nation. others renounce their statehood or lose their statehood when their nation dissolves — as was the case for many native russian soviet citizens living in estonia and latvia, who suddenly became stateless when the soviet union dissolved. the main source of statelessness, however, arises due to states discriminating against a particular group. the syrian government, for example, stripped hundreds of thousands of kurds of their statehood in a 1962 census, claiming that the kurds had immigrated illegally, and sparking considerable international criticism. today, the myanmar government is perhaps the biggest contributor to the modern stateless population with their refusal to grant the rohingya people citizenship. the rohingya have been present in myanmar since the 8th century, but the state only offers citizenship to 135 legally recognized ethnic groups, of which the rohingya do not belong. instead, myanmar appears to intend to expel its rohingya population. notable examples of statelessness [json] mehran karimi nasseri's living quarters in charles de gaulle airport. photo credit: christophe calais / corbis via getty images albert einstein had a very interesting political history, bouncing from german to swiss back to german to u.s. citizenship. however, in between the years in which he was a german and swiss citizen, einstein was stateless for five years. though he was born in the german kingdom of württemburg, einstein renounced his citizenship in order to avoid military service in 1896. five years later, he would be granted swiss citizenship. mehran karimi nasseri was not so lucky. he has been allegedly stateless since 1977, and 18 of those years he spent living in charles de gaulle airport. nasseri claims to have been expelled from iran, his home country, for protesting the shah. he decided to move to britain, but the travel documents that listed him as a refugee — which provided him a legal basis to seek citizenship in europe — were stolen during a layover in france. nasseri continued onto britain regardless and was returned to france by british authorities. french officials intended to deport him but could not; nasseri had no country of origin to be deported to. a french court concluded that nasseri had entered the country legally, but he could not leave the airport. it was only until 2006 that nasseri left charles de gaulle due to an unknown illness requiring his hospitalization. the 2004 film the terminal used nasseri's story for inspiration. garry davis voluntarily renounced his u.s. citizenship in 1948, partially due to his brother's death in world war ii and his own participation in the war as a b-17 bomber. davis interpreted article 13(2) of the universal declaration of human rights as allowing him the rights of a world citizen. in his later years, he would start the world service authority, a non-profit with the goal of promoting world citizenship and a world government. he also developed world passports, which he allegedly used to gain entry into some countries (though he was detained many times). though these examples highlight some of the more whimsical ways one can lose their statehood, most stateless persons suffer a significant amount of abuse because of their lack of statehood. the unhcr has stated its goal to end statelessness by 2024 by a variety of actions, among them: * encouraging countries to change problematic laws (such as those 25 countries with gendered nationality laws), * pushing discriminatory states toward reform through international pressure, and * improving the process by which states dissolve or separate. it's a lofty goal, but one can't help but to imagine that the stateless will always be with us. related articles around the web * stateless in europe: 'we are no people with no nation' | world news ... › * the stateless in the united states - the center for migration studies ... › * statelessness - unhcr › women population law refugees immigration government global issues badge northwell health northwell health how new york's largest hospital system is predicting covid-19 spikes northwell health is using insights from website traffic to forecast covid-19 hospitalizations two weeks in the future. stephen johnson 14 january, 2021 credit: getty images sponsored by northwell health * the machine-learning algorithm works by analyzing the online behavior of visitors to the northwell health website and comparing that data to future covid-19 hospitalizations. * the tool, which uses anonymized data, has so far predicted hospitalizations with an accuracy rate of 80 percent. * machine-learning tools are helping health-care professionals worldwide better constrain and treat covid-19. one of the most devastating aspects of the covid-19 pandemic has been unpredictability. the nation's health systems—especially those in hard-hit areas like new york city—have had to adapt to sudden surges of covid-19 cases, all while dealing with limited resources, existing patients, and a novel virus that's still not fully understood.but what if health systems were able to forecast covid-19 hospitalizations two weeks before they occur? northwell health, the largest health care system in new york state, recently deployed a predictive tool that does just that.northwell health's surveillance dashboard is able to predict covid-19 hospitalizations by using insights from machine learning. in march, northwell health's customer insights group developed an algorithm that's been mining data from online traffic to the northwell.edu website, which has received more than 20 million hits since march.the algorithm collects data through 15 different indicators, each of which reflects the online behavior of the website's visitors. for example, the tool analyzes metrics such as the length of time users spend on certain pages, searches for emergency department wait times, and specific symptoms users search for. combined, this information translates into something like the "public mood" of the website on any given day. since northwell health began using the predictive tool in september, it's predicted covid-19 hospitalizations with an accuracy of about 80 percent. to understand how this mood relates to future covid-19 cases, northwell health began comparing its data with a timeline of covid-19 hospitalizations across 23 hospitals and nearly 800 outpatient facilities and in the metro new york area. this enabled the customer insights group to see patterns of online activity that precede future increases or decreases in hospitalizations.since northwell health began using the predictive tool in september, it's predicted covid-19 hospitalizations with an accuracy of about 80 percent."this is really the first tool that i've been exposed to that gives me a sort of guestimate of what two weeks from now may look like," said dr. eric cruzen, chief medical informatics officer of northwell's emergency medicine services and chair of the emergency department at lenox health greenwich village in manhattan."even if the data can provide an idea of whether to expect an increase, decrease, or stasis, that's valuable. because every day we're working to estimate what tomorrow's going to bring. any tool that's going to shed light on that is a good tool in my book." the value of forecasting northwell emergency departments use the dashboard to monitor in real time. credit: northwell health one unique benefit of forecasting covid-19 hospitalizations is that it allows health systems to better prepare, manage and allocate resources. for example, if the tool forecasted a surge in covid-19 hospitalizations in two weeks, northwell health could begin:making space for an influx of patientsmoving personal protective equipment to where it's most neededstrategically allocating staff during the predicted surgeincreasing the number of tests offered to asymptomatic patientsthe health-care field is increasingly using machine learning. it's already helping doctors develop personalized care plans for diabetes patients, improving cancer screening techniques, and enabling mental health professionals to better predict which patients are at elevated risk of suicide, to name a few applications.health systems around the world have already begun exploring how machine learning can help battle the pandemic, including better covid-19 screening, diagnosis, contact tracing, and drug and vaccine development.cruzen said these kinds of tools represent a shift in how health systems can tackle a wide variety of problems."health care has always used the past to predict the future, but not in this mathematical way," cruzen said. "i think [northwell health's new predictive tool] really is a great first example of how we should be attacking a lot of things as we go forward." making machine-learning tools openly accessible northwell health has made its predictive tool available for free to any health system that wishes to utilize it."covid is everybody's problem, and i think developing tools that can be used to help others is sort of why people go into health care," dr. cruzen said. "it was really consistent with our mission."open collaboration is something the world's governments and health systems should be striving for during the pandemic, said michael dowling, northwell health's president and ceo."whenever you develop anything and somebody else gets it, they improve it and they continue to make it better," dowling said. "as a country, we lack data. i believe very, very strongly that we should have been and should be now working with other countries, including china, including the european union, including england and others to figure out how to develop a health surveillance system so you can anticipate way in advance when these things are going to occur."in all, northwell health has treated more than 112,000 covid patients. during the pandemic, dowling said he's seen an outpouring of goodwill, collaboration, and sacrifice from the community and the tens of thousands of staff who work across northwell."covid has changed our perspective on everything—and not just those of us in health care, because it has disrupted everybody's life," dowling said. "it has demonstrated the value of community, how we help one another." keep reading show less health health care coronavirus data prediction algorithm community popular surprising science octopus-like creatures inhabit jupiter’s moon, claims space scientist 3,000-pound triceratops skull unearthed in south dakota surprising science world’s largest bee, thought to be extinct, found in indonesia surprising science scientists find 'smoking gun' proof of a recent supernova near earth surprising science divers discover world's largest underwater cave system filled with mayan mysteries technology & innovation sister sites * brendan fraser * semicolon tattoo * drew brees scar * dermatologist salary * why are you interested in this position * career quotes octopus-like creatures inhabit jupiter’s moon, claims space scientist a leading british space scientist thinks there is life under the ice sheets of europa. paul ratner 03 may, 2020 jupiter's moon europa has a huge ocean beneath its sheets of ice. credit: nasa/jpl-caltech/seti institute surprising science * a british scientist named professor monica grady recently came out in support of extraterrestrial life on europa. * europa, the sixth largest moon in the solar system, may have favorable conditions for life under its miles of ice. * the moon is one of jupiter's 79. alien hunting is a hopeful activity and one reason behind our space programs that the public generally supports. looking for other life is a strong incentive to be venturing out into space, despite having found none so far. a top british space scientist, professor monica grady, gave all cosmic explorers a big dose of such hope in a recent speech. she is certain there's some form of life on jupiter's moon, europa.this life would not look human, but more like an "octopus," and is likely residing in the cold waters under the moon's sheets of ice. grady, a professor of planetary and space science and chancellor at liverpool hope university, thinks there's a great likelihood of undiscovered life somewhere in our galaxy.she also supposes that the deeper caves and cavernous spaces of mars could be harboring some subterranean creatures, likely bacteria, there to escape the solar radiation. they could be getting water from the ice buried deep down. "when it comes to the prospects of life beyond earth, it's almost a racing certainty that there's life beneath the ice on europa," she said in a february address. she thinks these life forms on europa, 390 million miles from earth, could be higher in sophistication than the martian bacteria, possibly having "the intelligence of an octopus."where would the creatures live on this moon of jupiter? somewhere below the very thick layer of ice, which goes 15 miles deep in some places. it's possible there is liquid water beneath all that ice, keeping whatever lives inside protected against radiation and the impact of asteroids and similar smashing bodies.the likelihood of life on europa is bolstered by the possible hydrothermal vents on its ocean floor. such vents are cradles of life on earth.grady thinks that our solar system doesn't have to be particularly special and that statistically speaking, as we explore other stars and galaxies, we should be able to find conditions for life. "i think it's highly likely there will be life elsewhere—and i think it's highly likely they'll be made of the same elements," stated the professor. neil degrasse tyson wants to go ice fishing on europa grady did not want to guess whether we would contact extraterrestrials any time soon, citing the fact that distances between us and likely aliens might be gigantic. on the other hand, she added, if you look at a grain of sand, you "can see that most of it is made up of silicates, but it's also got little patches of carbon in it—and that carbon is extra-terrestrial, because it also contains nitrogen and hydrogen, which is not a terrestrial signature."this tiny sample, says grady, shows it was hit by meteorites, asteroids, and interstellar dust, pointing out "it's giving us an idea of how complex the record of extra-terrestrial material really is." as for europa, it has certainly figured in conversations about alien life previously. as nasa explains, scientists call europa an "ocean world" due to decades of observations that predict an ocean under its sheets of ice. in 2019, water vapor was confirmed there by nasa for the first time. while it might just have the right conditions for life, does this moon have little octopus e.t.s swimming about? future studies will tell. water vapor above europa’s surface deteced for first time keep reading show less space cosmos europa planets universe biology astronomy nasa alien the scent of sickness: 5 questions answered about using dogs – and mice and ferrets – to detect disease could medical detection animals smell coronavirus? glen j. golden 14 january, 2021 leon neal/getty images coronavirus as covid-19 continues to spread worldwide, scientists are analyzing new ways to track it. one promising approach is training dogs to detect people who are infected by smelling samples of human urine or sweat. research scientist glen golden, who has trained dogs and ferrets to detect avian flu in birds, explains why certain animals are well suited to sniff out sickness.1. which species have a nose for disease?some animals have highly developed senses of smell. they include rodents; dogs and their wild relatives, like wolves and coyotes; and mustelids – carnivorous mammals such as weasels, otters and ferrets. these species' brains have three or more times more functional olfactory receptor neurons – nerve cells that respond to odors – than species with less keen smelling abilities, including humans and other primates. these neurons are responsible for detecting and identifying volatile olfactory compounds that send meaningful signals, like smoke from a fire or the aroma of fresh meat. a substance is volatile if it changes readily from liquid to gas at low temperatures, like the acetone that gives nail polish remover its fruity smell. once it vaporizes, it can spread rapidly through the air.when one of these animals detects a meaningful odor, the chemical signal is translated into messages and transported throughout its brain. the messages go simultaneously to the olfactory cortex, which is responsible for identifying, localizing and remembering odor, and to other brain regions responsible for decision-making and emotion. so these animals can detect many chemical signals over great distances and can make rapid and accurate mental associations about them. 2. how do researchers choose a target scent?in most studies that have used dogs to detect cancer, the dogs have identified physical samples, such as skin, urine or breath, from patients who either have been diagnosed with cancer or have undiagnosed cancer at an early stage. scientists don't know what odor cue the dogs use or whether it varies by type of cancer.the u.s. department of agriculture's national wildlife research center in colorado and the monell chemical senses center in pennsylvania have trained mice to detect avian influenza in fecal samples from infected ducks. bird flu is hard to detect in wild flocks, and it can spread to humans, so this work is designed to help wildlife biologists monitor for outbreaks.the kimball lab at monell taught the mice to get a reward when they smelled a confirmed positive sample from an infected animal. for example, mice would get a drink of water when they traveled down the arm of a y-shaped maze that contained feces from a duck infected with avian influenza virus.by chemically analyzing the fecal samples, researchers found that the concentration of volatile chemical compounds in them changed when a duck became infected with bird flu. so they inferred that this altered smell profile was what the mice recognized.members of the mustelid family, such as ferrets, badgers and otters, have highly developed senses of smell. here a wolverine sniffs out frozen meat buried deep in the snow.building on that work, we've trained ferrets and dogs to detect avian influenza in fowl, such as wild ducks and domestic chickens, in a collaborative study between colorado state university and the national wildlife research center that is currently under review for publication.with ferrets, we started by training them to alert, or signal that they had detected the target odor, by scratching on a box that contained high ratios of those volatile compounds and to ignore boxes that contained low ratios. next we showed the ferrets fecal samples from both infected and noninfected ducks, and the ferrets immediately began alerting to the box containing the fecal sample from an infected duck.this approach is similar to the way that dogs are trained to detect known volatile odors in explosives or illegal drugs. sometimes, though, we have to let the detector animal determine the odor profile that it will respond to. 3. can animals be trained to detect more than one target?yes. to avoid confusion about what a trained animal is detecting, we can teach it a different behavioral response for each target odor.for example, the dogs in the u.s. department of agriculture's wildlife services canine disease detection program respond with an aggressive alert, such as scratching, when they detect a sample from a duck infected with bird flu. when they detect a sample from a white-tailed deer infected by the prion that causes chronic wasting disease, they respond with a passive alert such as sitting down.research at the university of auburn has shown that dogs can remember and respond to 72 odors during an odor memory task. the only limitation is how many ways a dog can communicate about different odor cues. 4. what kinds of factors can complicate this process?first, any organization that trains animals to detect disease needs the right type of laboratory and equipment. depending on the disease, that could include personal protection equipment and air filtering.another concern is whether the pathogen might infect the detection animals. if that's a risk, researchers may need to inactivate the samples before they expose the animals. then they need to see whether that process has altered the volatiles that they are teaching the animals to associate with infection.finally, handlers have to think about how to reinforce the desired response from detection animals in the field. if they are working in a population of mostly noninfected people – for example, in an airport – and an animal doesn't get a chance to earn a reward, it may lose interest and stop working. we look for animals that have a strong drive to work without stopping, but working for a long time without reward can be challenging for even the most motivated animal. 5. why not build a machine that can do this?right now we don't have devices that are as sensitive as animals with well-developed senses of smell. for example, a dog's sense of smell is at least 1,000 times more sensitive than any mechanical device. this could explain why dogs have detected cancer in tissue samples that have been medically cleared as not cancerouswe also know that ferrets can detect avian flu infection in fecal samples before and after laboratory analysis shows that the virus has stopped shedding. this suggests that for some pathogens, there may be changes in volatiles in individuals who are infected but are asymptomatic.as scientists learn more about how mammals' sense of smell works, they'll have a better chance of creating devices that are as sensitive and reliable in sniffing out disease.glen j. golden, research scientist/scholar i, colorado state universitythis article is republished from the conversation under a creative commons license. read the original article. keep reading show less public health pandemic health animals epidemiology coronavirus why large groups of people often come to the same conclusions study confirms the existence of a special kind of groupthink in large groups. robby berman 14 january, 2021 credit: kaleb nimz/unsplash surprising science * large groups of people everywhere tend to come to the same conclusions. * in small groups, there's a much wider diversity of ideas. * the mechanics of a large group make some ideas practically inevitable. people make sense of the world by organizing things into categories and naming them. "these are circles." "that's a tree." "those are rocks." it's one way we tame our world. there's a weird correspondence between different cultures, though — even though we come from different places and very different circumstances, cultures everywhere develop largely the same categorizations."but this raises a big scientific puzzle," says damon centola of the university of pennsylvania. "if people are so different, why do anthropologists find the same categories, for instance for shapes, colors, and emotions, arising independently in many different cultures? where do these categories come from and why is there so much similarity across independent populations?"centola is the senior investigator of a new study in the journal nature communications from the network dynamics group (ndg) at the annenberg school for communication that explores how such categorization happens.some have theorized that these categories are innate—pre-wired in our brains—but the study says "nope." its authors hypothesize that it has more to do with the dynamics of large groups, or networks. the grouping game some of the shapes used in the experiment credit: guilbeault, et al./university of pennsylvania the researchers tested their theory with 1,480 people playing an online "grouping game" via amazon's mechanical turk platform. the individuals were paired with another participant or made a member of a group of 6, 8, 24, or 50 people. each pair and group were tasked with categorizing the symbols shown above, and they could see each other's answers.the small groups came up with wildly divergent categories—the entire experiment produced nearly 5,000 category suggestions—while the larger groups came up with categorization systems that were virtually identical to each other.says centola, "even though we predicted it, i was nevertheless stunned to see it really happen. this result challenges many long-held ideas about culture and how it forms."nor was this unanimity a matter of having teamed-up like-minded individuals. "if i assign an individual to a small group," says lead author douglas guilbeault, "they are much more likely to arrive at a category system that is very idiosyncratic and specific to them. but if i assign that same individual to a large group, i can predict the category system that they will end up creating, regardless of whatever unique viewpoint that person happens to bring to the table." why this happens the many categories suggested by small groups on the left, the few from large groups on the right credit: guilbeault, et al./nature communications the striking results of the experiment correspond to a previous study done by ndg that investigated tipping points for people's behavior in networks.that study concluded that after an idea enters a discussion among a large network of people, it can gain irresistible traction by popping up again and again in enough individuals' conversations. in networks of 50 people or more, such ideas eventually reach critical mass and become a prevailing opinion.the same phenomenon does not happen often enough within a smaller network, where fewer interactions offer an idea less of an opportunity to take hold. beyond categories the study's finding raises an interesting practical possibility: would categorization-related decisions made by large groups be less likely to fall prey to members' individual biases?with this question in mind, the researchers are currently looking into content moderation on facebook and twitter. they're investigating whether the platforms would be wiser when categorizing content as free speech or hate speech if large groups were making these decisions instead of lone individuals working at these companies.similarly, they're also exploring the possibility that larger networks of doctors and healthcare professionals might be better at making diagnoses that would avoid biases such as racism or sexism that could cloud the judgment of individual practitioners."many of the worst social problems reappear in every culture," notes centola, "which leads some to believe these problems are intrinsic to the human condition. our research shows that these problems are intrinsic to the social experiences humans have, not necessarily to humans themselves. if we can alter that social experience, we can change the way people organize things, and address some of the world's greatest problems." keep reading show less collaboration cooperation debate personality psychology social media decision making technology & innovation from nasa to your table: a history of food from thin air robby berman a fairly old idea, but a really good one, is about to hit the store shelves. culture & religion can you step in the same river twice? wittgenstein vs. heraclitus surprising science cancer cells hibernate to survive chemotherapy, finds study politics & current affairs should law enforcement be using ai and cell phone data to find rioters? mind & brain nerves that sense touch may play role in autism personal growth you’re simply not that big a deal: now isn’t that a relief? surprising science ginger may guard against the progression of some autoimmune diseases surprising science scientists confirm quantum response to magnetism in cells sex & relationships why we have breakup sex, according to psychology scroll down to load more… quantcast #brookings » feed brookings » comments feed brookings » the state of statelessness in the middle east comments feed alternate alternate alternate iframe: https://www.googletagmanager.com/ns.html?id=gtm-whwfz5 skip to main content search brookings ____________________ search * about us * press room * experts * events * the brookings press * washu at brookings * careers * support brookings * cart 0 * (button) search guidance for the brookings community and the public on our response to the coronavirus (covid-19) » learn more from brookings scholars about the global response to coronavirus (covid-19) » the state of statelessness in the middle east * facebook * twitter * linkedin * print * sms * email * more * * reddit * * ai * transition 2021 * cities & regions * global dev * intl affairs * u.s. economy * u.s. politics & govt * more (button) (button) 0 syria_palestinerefugees001 future development the state of statelessness in the middle east omer karasapan friday, may 15, 2015 future development * facebook * twitter * linkedin * print * sms * email * more * * reddit * according to the unhcr there are some 10 million stateless people worldwide, although the institute on statelessness and inclusion (isi) cites a number of over 15 million. in part, the differences are due to different interpretations of palestinian refugees. chris nash, director of the european network on statelessness describes the stateless as “legal ghosts, exposed to human rights abuses and with no recourse to justice.” lacking legal documents, these individuals are without access to basic health and education services, with severe restrictions on their rights and freedom of movement. they are also easy prey for trafficking or recruitment by criminals and militias and at the mercy of corrupt officials. the middle east now faces the prospect of adding hundreds of thousands to the stateless population. of the 4 million syrian refugees, over 1 million are children under 18—many having left syria without proper papers. there are also around 10,000 minors who have arrived in neighboring countries paperless and without an accompanying adult. more at risk of permanent statelessness are tens of thousands of newborn refugees, overwhelmingly from syria, with many lacking papers to prove their nationality. some 70 percent of babies born to syrians in lebanon are estimated to be unregistered. since only fathers can confer citizenship in syria, lebanon, and jordan, an absent father will preclude registration. it is estimated that 25 percent of refugee families are headed by women, with husbands either separated, fighting, or dead. many syrians with passports see them expire, but even where feasible, refugees are reluctant to renew them at syrian consulates because of fear of deportation or identification by the syrian regime. jordan, lebanon, and syria also require marriage certificates prior to registering a baby, along with a birth notification from a hospital, doctor, or midwife. however, women often give birth at home or in emergency situations where formal birth notifications are not available. marriage certification requires valid documents that are not always available from religious authorities performing these ceremonies. furthermore, many marriages are performed with underage brides, rendering them invalid. relatedly, a lack of proper papers increases the likelihood of early marriage. in lebanon evidence of legal entry and stay in the country are necessary to register a baby. the cost of registering a baby also looms as a significant barrier. in the meantime, isis has started destroying passports and other identification documents issued by the syrian government as a punitive measure, but also to cut links to nationality and former homes. registration in the host country is critical in documenting a child with its country of origin and to prepare a return to syria or for refugee benefits. unhcr and others are tackling the issue of sensitizing refugees to the importance of registering children – many parents are unaware of the consequences in terms of access to schools, health care, and other basic services. the unhcr has established legal aid initiatives in iraq, jordan, and lebanon to help refugees with the often cumbersome procedures. jordan has established civil registry departments and courts in the za’atari and azraq refugee camps. it is estimated that 70 percent of syrian babies are now registered. reaching refugees outside the camps remains problematic. in turkey, home to the largest syrian refugee population, the population department nearest to the refugee’s place of residence has to be notified within a month of the birth. parents or legal guardians should register the child but grandparents, siblings or accompanying adults can also do so. official documents are needed but if unavailable, oral statements from accompanying adults will suffice to issue a birth certificate. many refugees still refuse to register—either unaware of the consequences or wary of authorities in general. the relative ease of registration reflects existing legislation and the need to lay the basis for repatriation or eventual integration of this growing population. according to the unhcr, turkey currently hosts 1.7 million syrian refugees and 300,000 iraqis; moreover, 500,000 more are expected from syria before the end 2015. today’s syrian refugees are in addition to three older stateless populations in the middle east. the palestinians loom large and their challenges and numbers are of an order all its own. the isi report on the world’s stateless discusses the palestinians in three categories: palestinians who fall under the unrwa mandate; palestinians under unhcr’s refugee mandate; and palestinians potentially under unhcr’s statelessness protection mandate. accordingly, there are over 5 million palestinians who are stateless or whose nationality status is unclear. the other distinct stateless groups include several hundred thousand bidoon in the persian gulf region. when boundaries in the region were established, some countries used tribal affiliations rather than borders to determine citizenship and thousands ended up without any nationality. there are also over 200,000 stateless kurds in syria and lebanon. syria had announced a policy to address this issue in 2011 but the deterioration of the security situation has precluded a resolution. today this kurdish population constitutes up to 10 percent of the 250,000 syrian refugees in iraq. in november 2014 the unhcr announced a global campaign to end statelessness within 10 years. the campaign does not include the palestinians since, according to u.n. refugee head antonio guterres, the u.n. general assembly has recognized palestine as a state, and that this “very specific situation” required a “political solution.” still, the campaign includes a special report and a 10 point global action plan. with the world now facing the unprecedented number of over 50 million refugees and internally displaced people, governments, humanitarian and aid agencies, and development institutions need to lay the groundwork for providing the support and resources needed to ensure that we don’t add to the number of the stateless as we grapple with this global challenge. related books * cvr: public sector reform public sector reform in the middle east and north africa edited by robert p. beschel jr. and tarik m. yousef 2020 * cover: re-engaging the middle east re-engaging the middle east edited by dafna h. rand and andrew p. miller 2020 * cover: unlocking africa's business potential unlocking africa’s business potential by landry signé 2020 omer karasapan partner - strategies for stability future development this blog was first launched in september 2013 by the world bank and the brookings institution in an effort to hold governments more accountable to poor people and offer solutions to the most prominent development challenges. continuing this goal, future development was re-launched in january 2015 at brookings.edu. for archived content, visit worldbank.org » related topics * global development * human rights * middle east & north africa more a woman from the daborin single mothers association gathers rice at a small processing plant in the northern ghanaian town of bolgatanga, february 1, 2008. the single mothers began their organisation to gain more freedom and financial independence in a district where most farmers live on the equivalent of about a dollar a day, according to oxfam, which helps fund the women's programme. reuters/finbarr o'reilly (ghana) africa in focus mitigating short-term adjustment costs: preparing for the afcfta hippolyte fofack tuesday, december 29, 2020 nairobi, kenya - april 28 2018: people walking along a busy street in the crowded down town of nairobi city, kenya, east africa africa in focus us foreign policy toward africa: an african citizen perspective e. gyimah-boadi, landry signé, and josephine appiah-nyamekye sanny friday, october 23, 2020 casablanca, morocco - mars 14, 2017: child drawing at school future development investing in human capital in the middle east and north africa is more important than ever keiko miwa and jeremie amoroso monday, october 19, 2020 * find us on facebook * find us on twitter * find us on youtube * listen to our podcast * browse newsletters * subscribe to our rss * languages * español * 中文 * عربي * about us * research programs * find an expert * careers * contact * terms and conditions * brookings privacy policy * copyright 2021 the brookings institution (button) close * trending + u.s. politics & government + campaigns & elections * topics + ai + transition 2021 + cities & regions + global dev + intl affairs + u.s. economy + u.s. politics & govt + more * about us * press room * experts * events * the brookings press * washu at brookings * careers * support brookings * cart 0 get daily updates from brookings enter email ____________________ subscribe (button) send to email address ____________________ your name ____________________ your email address ____________________ _________________________ loading send email cancel post was not sent - check your email addresses! email check failed, please try again sorry, your blog cannot share posts by email. skip to main content iframe: https://www.googletagmanager.com/ns.html?id=gtm-w5d7zp help us continue to fight human rights abuses. please give now to support our work human rights watch (button) * العربية * 简中 * 繁中 * english * français * deutsch * 日本語 * русский * português * español * more search _______________ (search) donate now search _______________ (search) * countries * topics * reports * videos & photos * impact * take action * about * join us * give now * العربية * 简中 * 繁中 * english * français * deutsch * 日本語 * русский * português * español * more human rights watch (button) print search _______________ (search) donate now march 24, 2020 8:00pm edt malaysia: migrants, stateless at extra risk from virus ensure all have access to health care without discrimination a health worker in a protective suit gestures in a tent erected to test for the new coronavirus at a clinic in kuala lumpur, malaysia, march 24, 2020. click to expand image a health worker in a protective suit gestures in a tent erected to test for the new coronavirus at a clinic in kuala lumpur, malaysia, march 24, 2020. © 2020 ap photo/vincent thian (new york) – the malaysian federal and state governments should ensure that covid-19 related health care services are available without discrimination to all migrants, stateless people, and refugees, human rights watch said today. urgent measures are especially needed in the state of sabah, which has a large migrant and stateless population. the government should carry out multilingual public messaging campaigns that everyone has the right to access health care without risk of arrest or deportation, human rights watch said. “malaysia can’t effectively combat covid-19 if migrants, stateless people, and refugees are unable to get health care because they can’t afford it, face discrimination, or fear arrest and deportation,” said brad adams, asia director at human rights watch. “with many living in crowded settlements with no running water and no ability to isolate those who get sick, they are especially vulnerable to the covid-19 infection.” for many non-citizens in malaysia, who must pay more for health care than citizens do, the costs of health care can present an insurmountable barrier. language and cultural barriers may also impede access to services. while the ministry of health announced on march 23,2020 that covid-19 tests will be free for foreigners as well as for malaysians, the announcement does not make clear whether free tests are available for those who are undocumented, or whether those who are found to be ill will have to pay the “foreigner fee” for treatment. at the federal level, the malaysian government has taken strong measures to combat the spread of covid-19, announcing orders to limit travel and closing non-essential businesses. the government has also been working with the united nations refugee agency, unhcr, to trace rohingya refugees who attended a religious event in kuala lumpur that has been the source of a large cluster of infections. the federal territories minister, annuar musa, encouraged undocumented migrants who attended the event to come forward and be tested, but did not expressly state that they would not face legal repercussions. the police commissioner in the eastern state of sabah also called for all who attended the event to come forward for testing. he was quoted in the media as saying: “don't be afraid because the police will not arrest them ... the most important thing is the health screening and if they are found to be healthy then they will be allowed to go home.” human rights watch said the government should issue clear assurances to all groups that they will not face arrest or other legal repercussions if they seek medical care. sabah, in particular, has a large population of irregular migrants, stateless people, and holders of various refugee passes issued by the sabah state government, as well as oil palm plantations and timber concessions that rely heavily on migrant workers. all face serious barriers to accessing health care. the two towns in sabah with the highest reported coronavirus cases are lahad datu and tawau, both with large populations of migrants and stateless people. for many migrant populations, the potential risk of a serious outbreak is compounded by the inadequate sanitation, lack of running water, and small, crowded houses that typify these communities, human rights watch said. the state capital, kota kinabalu, which has also reported covid-19 cases, also has a large migrant and stateless population, thousands of whom live on island and coastal communities and work in formal and informal sectors in the city. the rapid spread of covid-19 reported within sabah, and the large number of marginalized people in the state, puts an onus on the federal and state governments to proactively adopt measures to ensure that everyone has access to testing and health care. the malaysian government should remove the barriers that prevent non-citizens from getting health care and ensure that everyone, regardless of their nationality or legal status in malaysia, can obtain testing and treatment for covid-19 on a nondiscriminatory basis, human rights watch said. as a matter of public health, the government should consider abolishing the “foreigner fee” for access to covid-19 testing and treatment, completely suspend arrests and detention for immigration violations of those already in the country, and publicly announce that all those who need medical care can seek it without fear of arrest or deportation. “the malaysian government needs to mitigate the impact of the covid-19 epidemic by making sure everyone, regardless of their legal status, can access health care without risk of arrest or other repercussions and is aware that they can do so, and that hospitals treat all those who come without discrimination,” adams said. “covid-19 does not discriminate, and neither should the malaysian government.” your tax deductible gift can help stop human rights violations and save lives around the world. (*) $50 ( ) $100 ( ) $250 ( ) $500 ( ) $1000 ( ) other ____________________ (donate) donate now region / country * asia , * malaysia tags * coronavirus topic * health , * health care access more reading * january 14, 2020 news release malaysia: human rights reforms stall protesters hold placards reading " save malaysia, arrest the thief " during a protest in kuala lumpur, malaysia, saturday, april 14, 2018. * october 31, 2019 news release malaysia: repeal abusive security law malaysia's national flag flies in front of the federal court on a hazy day in putrajaya, malaysia, october 6, 2015. * july 22, 2019 news release malaysia: ensure effective police complaints commission riot police members stand guard at the seafield temple on november 27, 2018 in subang jaya, selangor, malaysia. the priest says there are criminal elements involved in the attack on the temple yesterday. temple chief priest jeyakumar subramaniam said he s reports * january 6, 2021 report “like i’m drowning” children and families sent to harm by the us ‘remain in mexico’ program a woman holds a child in front of a group of tents * december 14, 2020 report “what crime was i paying for?” abuses by south sudan’s national security service an illustration of an eye with a captive man kneeling down in the iris more reading * january 14, 2020 news release malaysia: human rights reforms stall protesters hold placards reading " save malaysia, arrest the thief " during a protest in kuala lumpur, malaysia, saturday, april 14, 2018. * october 31, 2019 news release malaysia: repeal abusive security law malaysia's national flag flies in front of the federal court on a hazy day in putrajaya, malaysia, october 6, 2015. * july 22, 2019 news release malaysia: ensure effective police complaints commission riot police members stand guard at the seafield temple on november 27, 2018 in subang jaya, selangor, malaysia. the priest says there are criminal elements involved in the attack on the temple yesterday. temple chief priest jeyakumar subramaniam said he s most viewed 1. january 8, 2021 dispatches trump administration again weakens lgbt protections the picture shows the emblem of the united states department of health and human services. 2. january 13, 2021 commentary brazil: institutions stand up to bolsonaro presidente jair messias bolsonaro 3. january 13, 2021 news release pakistan: worsening crackdown on dissent members of civil society groups take part in a rally to condemn a recent gang rape of a woman on a highway, karachi, pakistan, september 12, 2020. 4. january 13, 2021 news release china: global resistance to deepening repression 202012asia_china_wr 5. july 29, 2020 report “they treated us in monstrous ways” 202007syria_lgbt_main protecting rights, saving lives human rights watch defends the rights of people in 90 countries worldwide, spotlighting abuses and bringing perpetrators to justice (donate) donate now get updates on human rights issues from around the globe. join our movement today. ____________________ submit get updates on rights issues from around the globe ____________________ (sign) sign up connect with us * twitter * facebook * youtube * instagram footer menu * contact us * corrections * privacy policy * permissions * blackbaud security incident © 2021 human rights watch human rights watch | 350 fifth avenue, 34th floor | new york, ny 10118-3299 usa | t 1.212.290.4700 human rights watch is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit registered in the us under ein: 13-2875808 human rights watch iframe: https://www.googletagmanager.com/ns.html?id=gtm-5dlkdfs (button) close sign the petition: save our freedom of information a secret uk government unit is accused of ‘blacklisting’ journalists and hiding ‘sensitive’ information. we need a huge public outcry. will you add your name? sign me up open democracy home page (button) select language * العربية * english * español * português * русский (button) open menu * (button) select language + العربية + english + español + português + русский * (button) all themes + conflict & security + crime, justice & law + cultural politics + economics + environment + gender & sexuality + health & care + media & communications + migration + politics & activism + racism & xenophobia + religion & spirituality projects + 50.50 + beyond trafficking and slavery + can europe make it? + countering the radical right + dark money investigations + democraciaabierta + digitaliberties + global extremes + live discussions + north africa, west asia + odr + opendemocracyuk + openjustice + oureconomy + ournhs + pandemic borders + rethinking populism + shine a light regions + africa + central asia + china, east & se asia + europe + india & south asia + israel & palestine + latin america + middle east & north africa + oceania + russia + turkey + united kingdom + united states & canada about authors + submit follow opendemocracy + opendemocracy facebook + opendemocracy twitter + opendemocracy youtube + opendemocracy newsletter * (button) themes + conflict & security + crime, justice & law + cultural politics + economics + environment + gender & sexuality + health & care + media & communications + migration + politics & activism + racism & xenophobia + religion & spirituality * (button) projects + 50.50 + beyond trafficking and slavery + can europe make it? + countering the radical right + dark money investigations + democraciaabierta + digitaliberties + global extremes + live discussions + north africa, west asia + odr + opendemocracyuk + openjustice + oureconomy + ournhs + pandemic borders + rethinking populism + shine a light * (button) regions + africa + central asia + china, east & se asia + europe + india & south asia + israel & palestine + latin america + middle east & north africa + oceania + russia + turkey + united kingdom + united states & canada * about * submit submit an article * (button) search ____________________ (button) search * donate donate (button) close close please type and press enter ____________________ (button) submit can europe make it? citizenship stripping, expulsion and statelessness: counter terrorism measures have gone too far caught up in ‘legislative fever’ around counter-terrorism, states have too readily instrumentalised nationality policy on the pretext of national security. laura van waas 9 july 2020 sister of shamima begum (15 yrs.) holds photo in a plea for her return, february 2015. | laura lean/pa. all rights reserved. share this * * * * * url copied to clipboard read more! get our weekly email enter your email address ____________________ ____________________ ____________________ (button) submit over a matter of weeks, in early 2019, shamima begum became a household name. not because her actions were more horrific or her situation more shocking than those of ‘isis brides’ of lesser fame. rather, it was a result of her very public appeal for help to return home and her government’s very public response of refusing this request and instead withdrawing her citizenship. her case has been in and out of the headlines ever since, as the media reported on the birth and then death of her third child in al-hol camp in syria, and followed her battle to have her british citizenship reinstated. begum’s case has sparked much controversy. it is just one of a growing number of instances of instrumentalization of nationality policy as a means to address the so-called ‘foreign fighter’ phenomenon – but her particular situation has provoked more fierce debate than other reported denationalisations. from a human rights perspective, the reasons for this are evident. begum was still a child (15 years of age) when she was recruited and when she travelled to syria, where she became a child bride and a child soldier. she had suffered grave trauma by the time she appealed to the uk government to be allowed to go home, at which point she was also heavily pregnant and stranded in a camp under appalling conditions – raising the question of responsibility towards the baby as well. a rights-based approach to these circumstances would dictate that she be offered protection and that the focus lie on restorative justice and social reintegration. instead, her government saw reason to strip her of her citizenship and through this, to shirk any responsibility for her – be it to protect her right to life or, in fact, to investigate and prosecute her. it is in respect of the latter of these implications of her denationalisation that the first cracks are revealed in this blind pursuit of ‘security’ or ‘symbolic justice’. if she is a terrorist and she is asking her government to bring her home, where she knows she could face prosecution, why is this not the first priority? a rights-based approach to these circumstances would dictate that she be offered protection. exporting risks the practice of withdrawing citizenship from persons involved in terrorist activities or suspected of such involvement has been criticised as one of “exporting of risks” – contrary to un security council resolutions which require states to investigate and prosecute terrorism through their national criminal justice frameworks. after all, in respect of how to deal with isis fighters, those arguing for managed return have pointed out that it is “european governments [that] have the resources to handle these people through prosecution, surveillance, or reintegration, as appropriate”. begum has been abandoned by her government in a country where there is no capacity to bring her to justice and where any chance of rehabilitation is out of question. the very act of deprivation of nationality also “constitutes an obstacle to accountability and justice, as the connection with the active nationality principle – one of the main possibilities to exercise criminal jurisdiction – is removed” – as professor martin scheinin and dr christophe paulussen explain. moreover, the very public denunciation of shamima begum by her own government drew unprecedented attention from the world’s media. if she were in fact intent on doing harm, then her denationalisation may have increased her capacity to do so, rather than rendering her a non-threat, by giving her an international profile. it’s hard to ignore the warning issued by dr david malet on the basis of historical precedent that “arab states preventing jihadis from returning from afghanistan in the 1990s led to waves of foreign fighters spreading to war zones and failed states around the world. osama bin laden is exhibit a of the folly of stripping a foreign fighter’s citizenship and then washing your hands and assuming the individual is no longer your problem”. as states skirt around the dubious effectiveness – and possible counter-effectiveness – of deprivation of nationality as a tool of national security policy, they also ignore the wider ramifications that an extraterritorial approach to counter-terrorism has for the integrity of the international legal system. denationalisation with a view to abandoning an (allegedly dangerous) former citizen to their fate in the country in which they find themselves is an encroachment on the territorial integrity of another state. the duty of a state to (re)admit its own nationals is understood to constitute a “vital means of regulating the coexistence of sovereign entities” and a state should not use denationalisation as a means to circumvent that duty. indeed, it may be a slippery slope: if some states deploy the technique of off-shoring a national security threat by stripping citizens who join terrorist organisations of their nationality while they are abroad, what is to stop others from also shirking their own duty to readmit their undesirable citizens. imagine the impact this could have for the whole system of international mobility, for instance, if a receiving state could no longer rely on the ability to return migrants who have engaged in criminal conduct and breached the terms of their immigration status. denationalisation with a view to abandoning an (allegedly dangerous) former citizen... is an encroachment on the territorial integrity of another state. what exactly is the point? whether we see shamima begum as a (former) child bride and child soldier whose situation demands protection, restorative justice and social reintegration; as a criminal whose actions warrant prosecution; or as a security threat that needs to be thwarted… depriving her of her citizenship does not assist in any of these objectives. in the absence of a legitimate aim that is effectively served by denationalisation, the necessity of the measure is in question. this raises yet further issues when the decision is scrutinised as to its conformity with international law. as set out in the principles on deprivation of nationality as a national security measure, the right to a nationality is a fundamental human right and arbitrary deprivation of nationality is prohibited. withdrawing nationality, without satisfying the condition of necessity, is by definition arbitrary. so too is denationalisation that is discriminatory in purpose or effect; deprivation of nationality that results in statelessness or directly leads to a violation of other (in particular non-derogable) rights; or withdrawal of citizenship that is executed without due process. caught up in “legislative fever” around counter-terrorism, states have too readily instrumentalised nationality policy on the pretext of national security and eroded every one of these safeguards that international law recognises as vital to protecting the institution of citizenship from abuse. that this amounts to a mis-step, not only from a human rights perspective where the measure raises evident problems, but also from a security perspective, is a concern that is increasingly being aired. a dutch oversight committee recently admitted that it is “uncertain whether the measure has the desired effect”, recalling in its report that the general intelligence and security service had flagged that deprivation of nationality “does not remove the (potential) threat posed by the individual [and they would] would still have to continue to investigate the threat that a person potentially poses”. as shamima begum and numerous others fight through the courts to retain their citizenship – in the uk, the netherlands, australia and elsewhere – a comprehensive re-evaluation of this overreach is needed, not just at the level of individual cases, but at that of the legitimacy and wisdom of the policy as a whole. on 9 july 2020, the institute on statelessness and inclusion is co-hosting a side-event to the un virtual counter terrorism week on ‘citizenship stripping, expulsion and statelessness: have counter terrorism measures gone too far?’ with the un special rapporteur on counter terrorism and human rights. this event forms part of a year of action against citizenship stripping. how can biden fight dark money and disinformation? violence, corruption and cynicism threaten america's flagging democracy. joe biden has promised to revive it – but can his new administration stem the flow of online disinformation and shady political financing that has eroded the trust of many us voters? hear from leading global experts and commentators on what the new president and congress must do to stem the flood of dark money and misinformation that is warping politics around the world. join us on thursday 21 january, 5pm uk time/12pm est. hear from: emily bell leonard tow professor of journalism and director, tow center for digital journalism, columbia journalism school peter geoghegan opendemocracy investigations editor and author of 'democracy for sale: dark money and dirty politics' josh rudolph fellow for malign finance at the alliance for securing democracy chair: mary fitzgerald editor-in-chief, opendemocracy further speakers to be announced (button) sign up share this * * * * * url copied to clipboard read more * 1_kamerić_30 years after.jpeg published in: can europe make it? thirty years in the shadow of the wall written by: christophe solioz all articles by: christophe solioz * pa-57505095.jpg published in: can europe make it? why has macron rejected the joint enterprise that defeats covid-19? written by: chris myant all articles by: chris myant * pa-57330145.jpg published in: can europe make it? morals for remainers: adversaries and alliances written by: colin gordon all articles by: colin gordon * pa-55937311.jpg published in: can europe make it? lead poisoning risks in a greek refugee camp: environmental racism as a dangerous new normal? written by: carly a. krakow all articles by: carly a. krakow view all in can europe make it? get weekly updates on europe a thoughtful weekly email of economic, political, social and cultural developments from the storm-tossed continent. join the conversation: get our weekly email enter your email address ____________________ ____________________ ____________________ (button) → comments we encourage anyone to comment, please consult the od commenting guidelines if you have any questions. please enable javascript to view the comments powered by disqus. creative commons attribution-noncommercial 4.0 this article is published under a creative commons attribution-noncommercial 4.0 international licence. if you have any queries about republishing please contact us. please check individual images for licensing details. all our projects * * * © opendemocracy 2021 * about * people * contact * write for us * jobs * privacy notice * log in #the borgen project » feed the borgen project » comments feed alternate alternate alternate the borgen project rss2 feed the borgen project * twitter * facebook * instagram * about + about us o president o board of directors o financials o contact + our methodology + success tracker * issues + the good news + global poverty & u.s. jobs + poverty & national security + poverty and overpopulation + inventions helping the poor + poverty & aid faq’s * act now + 30 ways to help o email congress o call congress o volunteer o e-alerts + internships o in-office internships o remote internships + legislation o politics 101 * the blog * magazine * be a donor * covid-19 & africa + covid-19 & infectious diseases + covid-19 & global food security + covid-19 & refugees * search * menu menu blog - latest news foreign policy, global poverty, government how statelessness affects global poverty statelessness statelessness is as much of an economic burden as it is a social and political one. according to a recent foreign policy article, statelessness results in “chronic economic instability” because it is often accompanied by joblessness and poverty. according to the u.s. department of state, a stateless person is someone who does not “enjoy” the rights of “citizenship – the legal bond between a government and an individual – in any country.” in other words, these individuals do not have the same rights and opportunities as people who are recognized as citizens by the nations in which they live. although the u.n. high commissioner for refugees counted 3.5 million stateless people in 2011, they estimated that the number could be as high as 12 million people. foreign policy reports that as many as 15 million people might be stateless today. the department of state notes that the causes of statelessness are diverse. they include failure to register newborns properly, birth to stateless parents, discrimination against minorities and traditional attitudes towards registration, to name a few. not only are stateless people denied government-issued identification, preventing them from acquiring formal labor jobs, but they are also subjects of social discrimination. these realities exclude them from even more employment opportunities, leads to fewer chances of regular employment and leaves stateless persons even more destitute. iframe: https://www.youtube.com/embed/5jl1sp5xs-u?rel=0&controls=0&showinfo=0 foreign policy also reports that very little research exists about the effects of statelessness on economies. some existing studies suggest that stateless persons have a negative economic impact on smaller nations in which they may make up a more significant percentage of the population. in this case, granting citizenship to stateless persons might actually improve these nations’ gross domestic product output. although stateless individuals can obtain cards which signify their status, only a few thousand people have been able to take advantage of this opportunity. one of the sustainable development goals of the united nations aims to provide everyone with legal identity by 2030, which will give people access to formal job markets and increase economic opportunities for individuals and nations. the u.s. state department suggests that universal birth registration and increasing access to naturalization and citizenship will help solve statelessness. as foreign policy points out, nations must want to increase inclusiveness with stateless persons and cease the use of political reasoning for ostracizing them before changes can occur. policies and prejudices might take many years to change, but the economic, social and humanitarian advantages of granting citizenship to stateless people are worth the fight. – addie pazzynski photo: unhcr july 24, 2016/by borgen project tags: foreign policy magazine, sustainable development goals, unhcr share this entry * share on facebook * share on twitter * share on whatsapp * share on pinterest * share on linkedin * share on tumblr * share on vk * share on reddit * share by mail https://borgenproject.org/wp-content/uploads/the_borgen_project_logo_sm all.jpg 0 0 borgen project https://borgenproject.org/wp-content/uploads/the_borgen_project_logo_sm all.jpg borgen project2016-07-24 01:30:372020-06-18 13:11:17how statelessness affects global poverty get smarter * global poverty 101 * global poverty… the good news * global poverty & u.s. jobs * global poverty and national security * innovative solutions to poverty * global poverty & aid faq’s  ____________________ take action * call congress * email congress * donate * 30 ways to help * volunteer ops * internships “the borgen project is an incredible nonprofit organization that is addressing poverty and hunger and working towards ending them.” – the huffington post inside the borgen project * contact * about * financials * president * board of directors * newsletter get smarter * global poverty 101 * global poverty… the good news * global poverty & u.s. jobs * global poverty and national security * innovative solutions to poverty * global poverty & aid faq’s ways to help * call congress * email congress * donate * 30 ways to help * volunteer ops * internships volts of change: women’s energy use can help end poverty gates foundation: closing the global gender data gap scroll to top iframe: data:image/gif;base64,r0lgodlhaqabaaaaach5baekaaealaaaaaabaaeaaaictaeao w== merch store 2020 activism conference urgent actions member center amnesty international * about us + overview + impact + history + who we are + diversity & inclusion + grants & awards + financial & legal documents + careers * our work + issues & campaigns + countries + cases + actions + innovation lab + advocacy & government relations * news & stories + newsroom + field stories + volunteer leaders + victories * tools & reports + reports + toolkits & guides + training & education + archives project + activism guide + contact us * search * take action + join our movement + act now + events + find a group + urgent action network + write for rights + volunteer * donate + join + renew + monthly + honorary + workplace + give stock + planned giving + donor advised fund + faq (button) (button) * * take action * donate * about us overviewimpacthistorywho we aregrants & awardsfinancial & legal documents * our work issues & campaignscountriescasesactionsadvocacy & government relations * news & stories newsroomfield storiesvolunteer leadersvictories * tools & reports reportstoolkits & guidestraining & educationarchives projectactivism guidecontact us * take action join our movementact noweventsfind a groupurgent action networkwrite for rightsvolunteer * donate joinrenewmonthlyhonoraryworkplacegive stockplanned givingfaq * contact us * search where are we going to live?: migration and statelessness in haiti and the dominican republic june 13, 2016 share * (button) [gif;base64,r0lgodlhaqabaaaaach5baekaaealaaaaaabaaeaaaictaeaow==] [gif;base64,r0lgodlhaqabaaaaach5baekaaealaaaaaabaaeaaaictaeaow==] [footer_fb_icon.svg] * (button) [gif;base64,r0lgodlhaqabaaaaach5baekaaealaaaaaabaaeaaaictaeaow==] [gif;base64,r0lgodlhaqabaaaaach5baekaaealaaaaaabaaeaaaictaeaow==] [footer_twit_icon.svg] share * (button) [gif;base64,r0lgodlhaqabaaaaach5baekaaealaaaaaabaaeaaaictaeaow==] [gif;base64,r0lgodlhaqabaaaaach5baekaaealaaaaaabaaeaaaictaeaow==] [footer_fb_icon.svg] * (button) [gif;base64,r0lgodlhaqabaaaaach5baekaaealaaaaaabaaeaaaictaeaow==] [gif;base64,r0lgodlhaqabaaaaach5baekaaealaaaaaabaaeaaaictaeaow==] [footer_twit_icon.svg] the dominican republic has unlawfully expelled hundreds of dominicans to haiti who have been caught in the middle of a wave of returns and deportations of more than 100,000 people in recent months, amnesty international said in a new report a year after the dominican republic ended a moratorium on deportations on june 18, 2015. “where are we going to live?” migration and statelessness in haiti and the dominican republic reveals the reckless way in which the two governments are handling the deportation, expulsion and “spontaneous” return of tens of thousands of people from the dominican republic to haiti following an 18-month long regularization plan for undocumented foreigners living in the dominican republic. “since arbitrarily stripping thousands of dominicans of haitian descent of their nationality, dominican authorities created a human rights crisis that is leaving tens of thousands of people in an absolute and desperate legal limbo,” said erika guevara-rosas, americas director at amnesty international. more than 40,000 people – including several hundred unaccompanied children — have been deported from the dominican republic to haiti between august 2015 and may 2016, according to the international organization for migration (iom) and haitian civil society organizations. at least another 68,000 returned to haiti “spontaneously,” in many cases following threats or through fear of persecution and violence in the dominican republic. though 85 percent of the total told the iom they were born in haiti, 15 percent claim to have been born in the dominican republic. the majority are children of haitian migrants who returned “voluntarily,” but who could be entitled to dominican nationality. nearly 1,600 people were verified by the united nations high commissioner for refugees as being entitled to dominican nationality who have been unlawfully expelled from the country. around 2,000 people have been living in six makeshift camps close to the southern haitian border town of anse-à-pitre since august 2015. conditions in the camps are dire with little access to food, water and sanitation or healthcare facilities. for several months, haitian authorities failed to take leadership in finding a solution and it was only in mid-february 2016 that a plan was set up to relocate all families towards the areas of their choice. “the dominican republic’s opaque way of deporting people and haiti’s lack of capacity to offer them protection has created a disastrous and chaotic situation. living conditions in these camps are extremely desperate and the authorities of both countries have failed to ensure the wellbeing of these people.” the few improvements made by the dominican republic in the way they carry out deportations – such as avoiding collective ones and making sure deportations are not carried out at night — have not gone far enough to ensure the rights of those affected are protected, including by individually screening people to be deported and ensuring that no one entitled to stay in the dominican republic is expelled. many of the deportations are being carried out without leaving any records. some ofthe deportees said they were arrested in the street and taken straight to the border after they failed to produce identification documents on the spot. none of the people interviewed by amnesty international were served with a deportation order nor had the chance to challenge its legality in court. none were offered legal aid. dominicans of foreign descent in september 2013, the constitutional court of the dominican republic ruled that children born in the country to undocumented foreign parents since 1929 had never been entitled to dominican nationality. the judgment disproportionately affected dominicans of haitian descent and constituted a retroactive, arbitrary and discriminatory deprivation of nationality. lacking nationality means not being able to exercise rights and access basic services such as formal jobs, education and health services. those stripped of their nationality cannot travel safely within their own country and are at risk of arbitrary arrest and expulsion. following the expiration of the regularization plan on june 18, 2015, the dominican authorities said they would not expel anybody who could prove they had been born in the dominican republic. they also promised that each case would be assessed individually and that people born in the country would be screened and protected from expulsion. however hundreds of dominicans of haitian descent, and stateless people, have been caught up in a continuing wave of deportations. there is a lack of formal mechanisms for people who have been wrongly expelled to be formally readmitted to the dominican republic and claim reparations. in addition, haitian authorities lack any mechanisms to deal with dominicans of haitian descent who have been expelled or have arrived in haiti, including those who are stateless. “this crisis was long in the making. it is high time for authorities both in the dominican republic and haiti to take their responsibilities seriously and protect the rights of the thousands of people who have been left in this limbo,” said guevara-rosas. “the newly elected dominican authorities must take urgent action to tackle this crisis. they must immediately halt illegal expulsions of dominican-born individuals and make sure that all deportations of undocumented migrants are in line with international law. they must also reinstate nationality to the tens of thousands of dominicans of haitian descent who have been arbitrarily stripped of it.” downloads * amr3641052016_where_am_i_going_to_live.compressed.pdf visit our merch store shop now join our movement fight injustice and help create a world where human rights are enjoyed by all. donate now sign up to take action first name ____________________ last name ____________________ email address ____________________ phone number ____________________ sign me up + urgent actions + #nobannowall protest resources & toolkits + art for amnesty + events + financials + careers + faq + contact us + merch store aiusa footer logo aiusa footer logo * privacy policy * terms & conditions * © 2021 amnesty international * facebook icon facebook icon * twitter icon twitter icon * instagram icon instagram icon * youtube icon youtube icon * tumblr icon tumblr icon * medium icon medium icon this website uses cookies to allow us to see how the site is used. the cookies do not identify you. if you continue to use this site, we assume that you are okay with this.ok #alternate alternate [tr?id=552845971584446&ev=pageview&noscript=1] dissent dissent menu * login * about us * ____________________ * magazine * online * blog * podcasts * events * donate * subscribe * store * winter 2021 * subscribe * ____________________ * magazine * online * blog * podcasts * events * store * login * about us * donate * contact * advertise * newsletter * statelessness: a forgotten crisis statelessness: a forgotten crisis mira siegelberg ▪ fall 2016 [1475503817siegelbergconstantinenuer666.jpg] the nubian community has lived in kenya for over a hundred years, yet many became stateless after kenya’s independence in 1963. for years, nubian youth had to go through a nationality verification process called “vetting” in order to obtain a national id card, and often had to wait years or were denied ids. two nubian youth sit in their social club in the kibera slum outside of nairobi. both now have their ids but are unemployed after losing out on years’ worth of opportunities. © greg constantine. nowhere people by greg constantine nowhere people, 2015, 374 pp. statelessness is a forgotten crisis. at least that is the claim at the heart of a recently inaugurated campaign sponsored by the un high commissioner for refugees (unhcr) to draw attention to the estimated 10–15 million people who cannot claim citizenship anywhere in the world. a person may lose the protection of a state for a variety of reasons: the breakdown of political authority, disenfranchisement, persecution, or the physical disappearance of state territory due to climate change. however, according to international agreements established in the wake of the second world war, the term “stateless person” applies only to individuals who are not recognized as nationals by any state. refugees, by contrast, are defined in a separate international convention from 1951 as people who generally retain their nationality but leave their countries of origin for “reasons of persecution.” such international classifications matter. the controversy in the summer of 2015 over whether to call the thousands of people fleeing syria and other conflict-ridden countries “refugees” or “migrants” indicates the power of legal definitions to trigger specific state obligations. it is also the reason why those in power often choose their words so carefully. until quite recently, the international institutions established to manage and care for people who have lost state protection treated the legally stateless as a marginal issue. while refugee law has developed into a fairly robust area of jurisprudence, statelessness has never been the subject of sustained legal study. the un only embarked on its campaign to illuminate the plight of the stateless and lobby for their enfranchisement in 2014, the same year the first global forum on statelessness in the netherlands brought together humanitarian practitioners and scholars to establish statelessness as its own field of research. how did the loss of nationality become a distinct legal and humanitarian issue in the first place? and why was it then forgotten? nationality is a legal status that has evolved since the formation of the european early modern state-system to delineate the state’s formal obligations toward its subjects. it ensures political recognition both in one’s h... subscribe now to read the full article online only for just $19.95 a year, get access to new issues and decades' worth of archives on our site. subscribe print + online for $29.95 a year, get new issues delivered to your door and access to our full online archives. subscribe already a subscriber? log in: email address: ____________________ password: ____________________ forgot password login new issue and subscribe button winter 2021 subscribe social media buttons — updated facebook facebook facebook facebook newsletter sign up for the dissent newsletter: ____________________ → subscribe leave this field empty if you're human: ____________________ sidebar ads mattson new school lima * about * contact * advertise * donate * subscribe * facebook * twitter * newsletter this website and its content © dissent magazine 2020. all rights reserved. we need to imagine new structures of care to cope with the current crisis—and the next one. for insights and analysis from the longest-running democratic socialist magazine in the united states, sign up for our newsletter: ____________________ ____________________ sign up (button) x [egerman-mcelwee-austin-frerick-campaign-photo-800-full.jpg] austin frerick, who launched a bid for iowa’s third congressional district on an antimonopoly platform, dropped out when party leaders made it clear that they preferred his better-funded opponents. photo courtesy of austin frerick. (button) ✕ [burmila-indiana-early-voting-2016-878x489.jpg] early voting locations in the indianapolis metro area in 2016, via indystar. (button) ✕ [chandler-eritrean-refugee-khartoum-full-800.jpg] an eritrean refugee in khartoum. photo by john power. (button) ✕ [chandler-view-of-khartoum-from-the-river-nile-800-sq.jpg] khartoum as seen from the river nile. photo by john power. (button) ✕ [chandler-map-final-ck-web-800.png] common migration routes from east africa to europe. route information adapted from the international organization for migration, august 2015, by colin kinniburgh. countries party to the khartoum process are shaded in orange (note: not all shown on this map). (button) ✕ [tooze-von_mises-haberler-business_cycle_research_group-1936-800-full.j pg] at the 1936 international conference of business cycle institutes, sponsored by the austrian institute for business cycle research, vienna. ludwig von mises is seated in the center with mustache and cigarette. gottfried haberler also pictured, at right. (source) (button) ✕ [schlozman-bryans-trotter-sharpened-3b13313u-full-800.jpg] in 1896, william jennings bryan, a democrat from nebraska, ran for president on a fusion ticket with the populist party. this cartoonist from a republican magazine thought the “popocratic” ticket was too ideologically mismatched to win. bryan did lose, but his campaign, the first of three he waged for the white house, transformed the democrats into an anti-corporate, pro-labor party. cartoon from judge (1896) via library of congress (button) ✕ [callaci-wfhw_sf_poster_design1-600.jpg] sketch for a 1976 poster by the new york wages for housework committee (mayday rooms / creative commons) (button) ✕ [gibson-keith_vaughan-sketch-tga-9013-1-71-1_10-600.png] keith vaughan, “drawing of a seated male nude,” 1949. courtesy the estate of keith vaughan / creative commons. (button) ✕ [woodly-jessica-byrd-533x800.jpg] political strategist jessica byrd. courtesy of three points strategies. (button) ✕ [woodly-stacey-abrams-31-x2-full-800.jpg] stacey abrams, minority leader of the georgia house of representatives and democratic candidate for governor of georgia. photo courtesy of david kidd/governing. (button) ✕ [milanich-drawing-3.jpg] a drawing made for the author by a five-year-old girl in detention at the south texas family residential center in dilley, texas (courtesy of nara milanich) (button) ✕ [milanich-drawing-2.jpg] a drawing made for the author by a five-year-old girl in detention at the south texas family residential center in dilley, texas (courtesy of nara milanich) (button) ✕ [milanich-drawing-1.jpg] a drawing made for the author by a five-year-old girl in detention at the south texas family residential center in dilley, texas (courtesy of nara milanich) (button) ✕ [summer-2018-cover-front-final-700x1000.png] (button) ✕ [summer-2018-cover-rear-final-700x1000.png] (button) ✕ [williams-de-blasio-bus-full-800.jpg] mayor bill de blasio inaugurates a new bus line in the bronx, september 2017 (new york city department of transportation / flickr) (button) ✕ [williams-wburg-condo-construction-full-800.jpg] luxury condominium towers under construction in williamsburg, brooklyn, 2013 (michael tapp / flickr) (button) ✕ [lim-berman-flircompressor-full-800.jpg] hydrocarbons from the williams central compressor, photographed with a flir thermal imaging camera and a normal digital camera, brooklyn township, pennsylvania, 2014. © nina berman/marcellus shale documentary project 2014. (button) ✕ [lim-berman-rig-800x800.jpg] composite of drilling rig image from rome, pennsylvania and hundreds of images taken by a hop bottom, pennsylvania resident of the volume of truck traffic passing in front of a neighbor’s home over four days of the operation of a nearby shale gas well pad. © nina berman/marcellus shale documentary project 2015. (button) ✕ [riederer-puerto-rico-boy-full-800.jpg] the nightmare situations preppers imagine are already happening—to people whose wealth and status don’t protect them. above, hurricane maria relief efforts in puerto rico, october 2017 (agustín montañez / national guard) (button) ✕ [mccarthy-french_montana-unforgettable-screenshot-3-boy_dance-800.jpg] [mccarthy-french_montana-unforgettable-screenshot-2-flags-800.jpg] from the music video for “unforgettable,” by french montana, featuring swae lee (frenchmontanavevo / youtube) (button) ✕ [mccarthy-wizkid-london-sept-2017-kbfg3e-full-800.jpg] wizkid performing at royal albert hall, london, september 2017 (michael tubi / alamy live news) (button) ✕ [stangler-antinorm-feb-1973-twitter.jpg] the cover of l’antinorm, published by the homosexual front for revolutionary action (fhar), february 1973. the subtitle reads “workers of the world, stroke yourselves!” (button) ✕ [mccann-bolsonaro-hearing-vaw-1044950-df_img_2182-800.jpg] jair bolsonaro, at a debate about violence against women in brazil’s chamber of deputies, september 2016. photo by marcelo camargo/agência brasil. (button) ✕ [mccann-bolsonaro-hearing-vaw-1044918-rj_img_1797-full-800.jpg] jair bolsonaro, at a debate about violence against women in brazil’s chamber of deputies, september 2016. photo by marcelo camargo/agência brasil. (button) ✕ [cohen-canard-180228_une_5079-full-800.png] the front page of the canard, february 28, 2018. courtesy of le canard enchaîné. (button) ✕ [karandinos-photo-04-factory-dealing-gk-bw-lighter-full-800.jpg] selling drugs in the shadow of an abandoned factory, north philadelphia. photo by george karandinos. (button) ✕ [karandinos-toyota-img_1573-bw-full-800.jpg] bundle of $10 bags of heroin. photo by fernando montero castrillo. (button) ✕ [dore-cuba-himbert_513876-trash-picker-full-800.jpg] on a dilapidated havana street, an elderly man searches through the garbage. february 2018, havana, cuba. photo by david himbert / hans lucas studio. (button) ✕ [dore-cuba-himbert_513854-woman-reading-full-900.jpg] a state employee reads the newspaper at the reception of the defense committee of the revolution (cdr). march 2016, havana, cuba. photo by david himbert / hans lucas studio. (button) ✕ [dore-cuba-himbert_513862-vendor-benetton-full-900.jpg] a street vendor selling tropical fruits in front of a benetton shop in old havana. may 2017, havana, cuba. photo by david himbert / hans lucas studio. (button) ✕ [phelps-uk-lecturers-strike-bristol-ucu-what_the_fuuk.jpg] at the university of bristol, february 28 (bristol ucu / facebook) (button) ✕ [phelps-uk-lecturers-strike-bristol-ucu-kant_touch_this-low_res.jpg] students rally in support of the lecturers’ strike, february 23 (bristol ucu / facebook) (button) ✕ [phelps-uk-lecturers-strike-bristol-ucu-highway_banner_strike.jpg] part of a much larger painted banner in bristol, february 28 (bristol ucu / facebook) (button) ✕ [spring-2018-cover-final-back-700x1000.png] (button) ✕ [spring-2018-cover-final-front-700x1000.png] (button) ✕ [iber-amlo-mural-800-full.jpg] amlo mural in mexico city, 2007 (randal sheppard / flickr) (button) ✕ [iber-amlo-pop-vote-rally-2015-800-full.jpg] morena supporters at a rally in itzapalapa, mexico city, april 2015 (eneas de troya / flickr) (button) ✕ [iber-amlo-supporters-waiting-2016-800.jpg] audience members waiting for the program to begin at a morena rally, march 2016 (eneas de troya / flickr) (button) ✕ [iber-morena-2013-leafletter-against-energy-reforms-800-full.jpg] morena supporter leafletting against energy reforms, 2013 (eneas de troya / flickr) (button) ✕ [iber-amlo-2012-garland-800-full.jpg] andrés manuel lópez obrador on the campaign trail during his previous presidential run, may 2012 (arturo alfaro galán) (button) ✕ [anwr_map-adapted-800.png] (button) ✕ [orangeburg-freedomways-in_memoriam_to_the_martyrs-spring_1968.jpg] courtesy of robert greene (button) ✕ [muirhead-rosenblum-pizzagate-full-800.jpg] at a protest against the alleged pizzagate conspiracy, washington, d.c., march 25, 2017 (blink o’fanaye / flickr) (button) ✕ the kurds [w]hen we refer to all kurdish fighters synonymously, we simply blur the fact that they have very different politics. . . right now, yes, the people are facing the islamic state threat, so it’s very important to have a unified focus. but the truth is, ideologically and politically these are very, very different systems. actually almost opposite to each other. —dilar dirik, “rojava vs. the world,” february 2015 the kurds, who share ethnic and cultural similarities with iranians and are mostly muslim by religion (largely sunni but with many minorities), have long struggled for self-determination. after world war i, their lands were divided up between iraq, iran, syria, and turkey. in iran, though there have been small separatist movements, kurds are mostly subjected to the same repressive treatment as everyone else (though they also face persian and shi’ite chauvinism, and a number of kurdish political prisoners were recently executed). the situation is worse in iraq, syria, and turkey, where the kurds are a minority people subjected to ethnically targeted violations of human rights. iraq: in 1986–89, saddam hussein conducted a genocidal campaign in which tens of thousands were murdered and thousands of kurdish villages destroyed, including by bombing and chemical warfare. after the first gulf war, the un sought to establish a safe haven in parts of kurdistan, and the united states and uk set up a no-fly zone. in 2003, the kurdish peshmerga sided with the u.s.-led coalition against saddam hussein. in 2005, after a long struggle with baghdad, the iraqi kurds won constitutional recognition of their autonomous region, and the kurdistan regional government has since signed oil contracts with a number of western oil companies as well as with turkey. iraqi kurdistan has two main political parties, the kurdistan democratic party (kdp) and the patriotic union of kurdistan (puk), both clan-based and patriarchal. turkey: for much of its modern history, turkey has pursued a policy of forced assimilation towards its minority peoples; this policy is particularly stringent in the case of the kurds—until recently referred to as the “mountain turks”—who make up 20 percent of the total population. the policy has included forced population transfers; a ban on use of the kurdish language, costume, music, festivals, and names; and extreme repression of any attempt at resistance. large revolts were suppressed in 1925, 1930, and 1938, and the repression escalated with the formation of the pkk as a national liberation party, resulting in civil war in the kurdish region from 1984 to 1999. syria: kurds make up perhaps 15 percent of the population and live mostly in the northeastern part of syria. in 1962, after syria was declared an arab republic, a large number of kurds were stripped of their citizenship and declared aliens, which made it impossible for them to get an education, jobs, or any public benefits. their land was given to arabs. the pyd was founded in 2003 and immediately banned; its members were jailed and murdered, and a kurdish uprising in qamishli was met with severe military violence by the regime. when the uprising against bashar al assad began as part of the arab spring, kurds participated, but after 2012, when they captured kobani from the syrian army, they withdrew most of their energy from the war against assad in order to set up a liberated area. for this reason, some other parts of the syrian resistance consider them assad’s allies. the kurds in turn cite examples of discrimination against them within the opposition. (button) ✕ barber shop quartet contest - wpa (button) ✕ barber shop quartet contest - wpa (button) ✕ salut au monde - federal dance theatre - wpa (button) ✕ adult education project - wpa (button) ✕ nyc dept. of parks water carnival - wpa (button) ✕ [alcatraz-nps-statement-goga-35158b.jpg] proclamation of the reclaiming of alcatraz by the indians of all tribes, november 1969 (national parks service) (button) ✕ [alcatraz-2008-babak_fakhamzadeh-flickr-2791481841_171b61ca9d_b.jpg] entrance to alcatraz in 2008 (babak fakhamzadeh / flickr) (button) ✕ [alcatraz-nps-needs-goga-35158d.jpg] letter from the indians of all tribes to the national council on indian opportunity, january 1970 (national parks service) (button) ✕ [alcatraz-nps-my_land-goga-17588a.jpg] sign on alcatraz during occupation, 1969–60 (national parks service) (button) ✕ [lee-georgia-bicycles-alb402-75-800.jpg] members of the people’s guard on motorcycles, 1920. courtesy of eric lee. (button) ✕ [lee-georgia-menshevik_peoples_guard-alb402-76-800.jpg] armed group of the menshevik people’s guard, 1920. courtesy of eric lee. (button) ✕ [gitlin-womens_march_2018-grab_him_by_the_midterms-img_1194-500x625.jpg ] eleven-year-old liza greenberg, daughter of david and suzanne nossel. photo by todd gitlin. (button) ✕ [neoliberalism_mata-full-900.jpg] protest against neoliberalism in colombia, 2013 (button) ✕ [cespedes-prbridgephoto-zoom-600x800.jpg] (button) ✕ [cespedes-prbridgephoto-600x800.jpg] (button) ✕ [cespedes-prphoto-family-800x600.jpg] (button) ✕ [gira-grant-deuce-sex-worker-cop-full-800.jpg] in a scene from hbo’s the deuce, streetwalker ruby presents an officer with a property voucher to avoid arrest. courtesy of hbo. (button) ✕ want to read our spring issue for free? sign up for our newsletter by march 31 to receive a full pdf when the issue launches. [dissent-spring2015-cover-final-nobarcode-350x500.png] [dissent-spring2015-previewpagetk-5001.png] [dissent-spring2015-previewpagesjquote-500.png] [dissent-spring2015-backcover-final-694x1000.png] email address ____________________ ____________________ subscribe (button) ✕ [tr?id=1428429090638591&ev=pageview&noscript=1] [dpx?cid=8041&action=100&segment=kcnationalcatholicreporter&m=1] iframe: https://www.googletagmanager.com/ns.html?id=gtm-p4wj5jf jump to navigation * national catholic reporter * earthbeat * global sisters report free newsletters advertisement advertisement global sisters report [logo-mobile-bold2.png] [menu-toggle-open-gsr.png] menu [menu-toggle-close-gsr.png] menu * menu * gsr in the classroom * about gsr * [search-icon-green1.png] search form search _______________ search * sections + arts and media + columns + environment + migration + ministry + news + q&a + religious life + social justice + spirituality + the life + trafficking * publications + national catholic reporter + earthbeat + global sisters report column | justice matters stories of statelessness aug 7, 2017 by clare nolan migration a rohingya woman holds her 2-month-old baby in early february at a refugee shelter in medan, indonesia. the woman and her husband fled persecution in their village in myanmar and have been waiting for two years to be resettled to malaysia or australia. (cns photo / dedi sinuhaji, epa) malaysia is the destination country of thousands of migrant persons known as rohingya, an ethnic group long settled but denied citizenship in their birth country of myanmar. the rohingya ethnicity implies muslim religious identification, making them a double minority in myanmar. this column reflects the experiences of our good shepherd sisters' shelters in malaysia, giving a small glimpse of the vast perils and occasional small victories of the human spirit told through stories. due to the sensitive nature of this information, both political and personal, the agency name and personal names are not used — an indication of how human dignity, even one's name, is denied to the stateless. ______ ameera ameera is a 42-year-old rohingya asylum seeker who was widowed in myanmar. a lone traveler leaving myanmar would endure a long journey by sea and jungle trek, coping with smugglers and traffickers who typically ask for additional money and — for women and girls — sexual submission. once in malaysia, ameera married a fellow refugee who quickly became abusive. she fled to the shelter with a 15- month-old son. recuperating in the safe environment, she felt she could return to the rohingya community and become independent. rohingya are typically denied work permits and have no secure housing, but ameera succeeded in finding a place to live and a hidden job in the informal sector. within six months she was back at the shelter — this time without her son. ameera's neighbors seem to have told her husband where she was, since tradition requires that women must be loyal to a husband and cannot live without a man. the husband continued to beat and rape her. when ameera fled again, she could not take her son: the father possessed all the rights. ameera could not report the abuse since the police had previously harassed her. the staff of the shelter say ameera's story is the norm, a "systemic bullying" of the stateless. as a stateless woman, all but invisible, ameera possessed no nationality, no rights, no protection and, now, no child. as an asylum seeker she is registered with the united nations high commissioner for refugees (unhcr), which gives her a refugee identity card. however, malaysia is not a signatory to the international conventions on statelessness or migrants, so she has no pathway to stability ("regularization"). malaysia simply does not grant citizenship to rohingya or to their children born in malaysia. so the sad ending to this story is that eventually ameera returned to her husband, for the sake of her child. she keeps in contact with shelter staff for practical help such as renewing her unhcr card, and she goes on enduring abuse. a stateless person, by definition, does not have a nationality. a stateless person belongs nowhere, to no one and is barely regarded as human in relation to basic social protections or rights that ought to be universal. the help offered by the shelter can be meager but it provides a place where any person can experience human dignity — the worth of being listened to and offered a response to expressed needs. saniyi despite the hazards of migration, saniyi (13 when she migrated) exhibits the unrelenting hope of so many migrants. saniyi lived in chronic poverty in myanmar, a stateless child of a stateless single mother. she had heard stories of girls in malaysia who sent money to their family, so when a relative asked if she wanted to become a babysitter in malaysia, she said "yes." captured by traffickers, she was confined in a malaysian trafficking agent's residence where she was constantly harassed by one man. gradually saniyi, still only 13, understood that she was being marked for marriage. she was forced to sell tissue packets on the street with a daily quota required to avoid a beating, but she was arrested with a group of street children for illegal selling. because of her age, saniyi was referred to the shelter for protection. the shelter, together with unhcr, began advocacy for resettlement to a third country, since as a rohingya she would remain stateless forever in malaysia. after a year, she passed the settlement process and is now living in the united states, with an agency overseeing her development and protection. she escaped trafficking and avoided becoming a child bride. she will eventually be able to gain citizenship in her newfound country. one might even call her lucky. despite support of a good shelter, the assistance of unhcr, international migrant conventions, and a convention on child rights, a migrant child can easily lose her entire family. shelter staff are obliged to confront the fact that a rohingya child might be better off alone in a strange resettlement country than holding on to family bonds closer to home. bibi bibi was a 47-year-old rohingya mother hosted by the shelter. before that, bibi had sold flowers on the street, living in one room with no furniture but thin mats for sleeping on the floor. her four children, not allowed to attend state schools, were in a refugee learning center. occasionally, when money was scarce, the children missed "school" to help sell flowers. one night police, having seen the children on the streets, barged into their home and arrested bibi and the children for trafficking. despite insufficient evidence for a court case, the family was held by police for over a month, moving between police stations, awaiting verification of their refugee status, and waiting to be placed in immigration detention. finally they were referred to the shelter, which supported their eventual return to their home. the family has endured trauma, and the children have become fearful of going to school or letting their mother leave the apartment. but over the months, the shelter staff continues to visit and help with groceries, and they see progress: bibi is selling again and the young children have returned to school. day by day improvement seems enough for now, but their future is uncertain. the shelter staff describes some positive signs: the government plans to issue 300 work permits to registered rohingya; there is a lessening of harassment; and more ngos are providing services. still, the staff understands that as long as the state does not officially recognize refugees, the journey towards an equitable and just treatment of refugees remains distant. the shelter, while doing direct service, is part of a local coalition advocating the ratification of international conventions; and they help internationally in support of the current united nations consultations and conferences working toward global compacts on migrants and refugees. ______ accompanying stateless persons is a long road with no end in sight. regarding the shelter ministry, the director says: "for as long as the refugees remain marginalized in this country we will continue to provide the service." just as i was submitting this column, the shelter director told me that a rohingya girl scheduled for resettlement in the u.s. last year (but deferred due to the imposed travel bans) has been confirmed for a travel date of july 26 — a small victory that gives hope to all. [sr. clare nolan recently retired as training coordinator of the good shepherd international justice office. good shepherd is an international woman's religious congregation that is involved in providing social services in about 70 counties, with a particular focus on women and girls in vulnerable situations.] say thanks 1651 migration | stories of statelessness share on facebook tweet this article print this article e-mail this article [back-to-top2.png] advertisement advertisement most recent seeing rightly: my moral education on racism jan 14, 2021 diaconal ministries link women religious to restoration of women deacons jan 14, 2021 congregations apologize amid report that thousands of children died at homes jan 13, 2021 start 2021 by making room for the unexpected jan 13, 2021 virtual mass as the real presence of christ amid pandemic jan 13, 2021 pray for a woman facing execution, and for her victim killed in 2004 jan 12, 2021 q & a with sr. christin mary, advocate for india's domestic workers jan 12, 2021 as covid-19 vaccines roll out, some sisters are early recipients jan 11, 2021 all recent stories advertisement advertisement more like this july 21, 2016 jul 21, 2016 charities' ceo visits border, hears immigrants' stories of fleeing danger jul 13, 2018 border crossers: kino teens bring youthful zeal to immigration reform efforts may 19, 2014 organizations suggest ways to help unaccompanied minor migrants jul 21, 2014 judge orders government to free children and their parents from detention aug 24, 2015 advertisement advertisement * arts and media * columns * environment * migration * ministry * news * q&a * religious life * social justice * spirituality * the life * trafficking * about us + about global sisters report + our mission + why sisters? * more + contact us + employment opportunities + advertise * connect + sign up for gsr emails + gsr in the classroom + community news national catholic reporter publications: ncronline.org | earthbeat | globalsistersreport.org | free newsletters copyright © the national catholic reporter publishing company | 115 e. armour blvd., kansas city, mo 64111 | 1-800-444-8910 * our facebook page * follow us on twitter * follow us on instagram #alternate test rss feed irish times top 10 stories activecampaign business today digest more from business activecampaign business today top stories activecampaign business today editors note activecampaign business today todays columnist noa rss construction rss commercial property rss facebook instant articles work rss apple rss the irish times - news @irishtimesworldfeed irish times world rss [p?c1=2&c2=8946263&cv=2.0&cj=1] [] iframe: //www.googletagmanager.com/ns.html?id=gtm-m9q373 * search * newsletters * crossword * notices * my account * subscribe * sign in the irish times fri, jan 15, 2021 ^ * the irish times * news * sport * business * opinion * life & style * culture * more * video * podcasts * executive jobs * search * subscribe * my account * sign in * news * world * us election * brexit * uk * europe * us * africa * middle east * asia-pacific all news * ireland + irish news * world + us election + uk + europe + us + africa + middle east + asia-pacific * politics + shared island + election2020 + oireachtas + poll + elections * crime & law * social affairs + mother and baby homes + religion & beliefs * health + coronavirus * education + student hub + 2nd level hub + parents * subscriber only * brexit * courts * environment + climate change + heritage & habitat * science + space * consumer * offbeat * highlights * specials + coronavirus * podcasts + inside politics + world view * subscriptions + epaper + newspaper archive living in a state of statelessness opinion: why people who find themselves without nationality need state recognition of their plight wed, nov 5, 2014, 00:01 sophie magennis ‘over the past 12 years, the refugee appeals tribunal which assesses elibility for refugee status has found that 82 people were stateless but not refugees.’ photograph: getty images ‘over the past 12 years, the refugee appeals tribunal which assesses elibility for refugee status has found that 82 people were stateless but not refugees.’ photograph: getty images stateless people are those who are not considered as nationals by any state. given that states are charged with guaranteeing our human rights and providing us with the documents we need to travel, to marry and to work, not having citizenship of any state is problematic. fahad al-enzi (name changed to protect identity) is currently in ireland. he has no nationality, no citizenship or the rights, privileges and duties such a status would bestow on him. he is stateless. the authorities have asked him to get documentation from the kuwaiti embassy but they won’t provide any because they say he is not a kuwaiti citizen. he is a kuwaiti bidoon, and like over 100,000 others in the country in which he was born, he is not recognised as a citizen. his situation is not unique. there are at least 10 million stateless people worldwide, people with no nationality through no fault of their own. some end up on the wrong side of redrawn borders. others inherit their status from their parents, unable to become citizens despite having deep-rooted and longstanding ties to their communities and countries. under some legal regimes women cannot pass on their nationality to their children. other people become stateless due to administrative obstacles; they fall through the cracks of a system that ignores or has forgotten them. thankfully, there are signs of a shift in international attitudes. just three years ago, there were barely 100 states party to the two statelessness treaties – the 1954 un convention relating to the status of stateless persons and the 1961 convention on the reduction of statelessness. today the number of accessions stands at 144, which unhcr believes is a sign of the requisite momentum needed to eradicate statelessness within 10 years. already, legal changes in bangladesh have enabled 300,000 stateless urdu-speakers to become citizens. in kyrgyzstan, more than 65,000 former ussr citizens have become kyrgyz citizens since 2009. the solution for many stateless people will need to be found in the countries where they live. for stateless people outside of their birth country, other states will need to assist in finding solutions for them. this includes ireland, which signed up to the two statelessness conventions in 1962 and 1973. there are a number of good provisions in irish law aimed at preventing statelessness and assisting stateless people. for example, a child born in ireland is an irish citizen from birth if he or she is not entitled to the citizenship of any country. naturalisation so what to do? an increasing number of countries have recently introduce d statelessness determination procedures. the uk introduced a procedure last year and belgium, the netherlands and turkey are looking at ways to improve the identification of stateless people. statelessness determination procedures have long been established in countries including france, hungary, italy and spain. the case for the establishment of a such a procedure in ireland needs to be made in terms of the number of people it may be relevant for, the impact the procedure would have on them and the possible other consequences. unhcr has undertaken a scoping exercise on statelessness in ireland to advance this case. it is not possible to put a figure on the number of stateless people in ireland, in the absence of a procedure and coherent data. however there are some relevant data sources. over the past 12 years, the refugee appeals tribunal, which assesses eligibility for refugee status found that 82 people were stateless but not refugees. while these findings were made strictly for the purposes of the refugee process, they indicate a small group of people who may be stateless and for whom there is no clear procedure to follow to resolve their case. there have also been a number of high court cases involving stateless or potentially stateless persons. while irish officials have undertaken a range of efforts to try to resolve individual cases, the lack of official documentation or a statelessness declaration often continue to pose significant problems. durable solution in recent months the irish authorities have issued the first two declarations of statelessness. unhcr welcomes this development and stands ready to support the authorities in further developing arrangements or mechanisms which can be accessed by stateless people in ireland. unlike so many problems facing governments today, this is one unhcr believes can be resolved globally with enough political will. sophie magennis is unhcr head of office. the united nations high commissioner for refugees this week launched its global campaign to end statelessness worldwide by 2024. subscribe. more from the irish times * irish news tánaiste and minister for enterprise leo varadkar said the aim is for ‘remote, blended and flexible working arrangements’ to be a much bigger part of life after covid.’ photograph: getty new laws will give employees in the state the option to permanently work from home * irish news stephanie walsh was asked in 1971 if her family would offer a temporary home to a young pregnant girl. photograph: diarmuid greene ‘the social worker said: were two seconds of pleasure worth it for all this?’ * opinion a memorial marks a mass burial site at what was formerly the bon secours mother and baby home in tuam, co galway. photograph: charles mcquillan/getty images 5:40 diarmaid ferriter: efforts to avoid ‘public scandal’ created the greatest scandal of all * politics minister of state with responsibility for special education josepha madigan’s comment was criticised by forsa’s andy pike. file photograph: crispin rodwell josepha madigan apologises for ‘normal’ children comment more in sponsored the pfizer/biontech covid-19 vaccine, received conditional marketing authorization by the ema in december and is now being rolled out nationwide. photograph: getty images a triumph of science and innovation with a host of local amenities, schools, shops and a beautiful beach, bettystown is a winner. illustration: aoife dooley bettystown co meath is ideally situated for both dublin and belfast it tralee hosts two technology gateways, shannon abc and imar, which offers expertise in ict and engineering to irish firms. photograph: domnick walsh/eye focus cork and tralee institutes of technology build on decades of industry collaboration irish times training partners with organisations to identify their training needs and develop a tailored suite of programmes to suit. the right training, at the right time, in the right way the irish times logo commenting on the irish times has changed. to comment you must now be an irish times subscriber. subscribe go back error image the account details entered are not currently associated with an irish times subscription. please subscribe to sign in to comment. comment sign in ____________________ ____________________ [ ] i agree to the terms & conditions, community standards and privacy policy (button) sign in forgot password? the irish times logo thank you you should receive instructions for resetting your password. when you have reset your password, you can sign in. the irish times logo please choose a screen name. this name will appear beside any comments you post. your screen name should follow the standards set out in our community standards. screen name selection hello please choose a screen name. this name will appear beside any comments you post. your screen name should follow the standards set out in our community standards. ____________________ only letters, numbers, periods and hyphens are allowed in screen names. (button) confirm the irish times logo commenting on the irish times has changed. to comment you must now be an irish times subscriber. subscribe forgot password please enter your email address so we can send you a link to reset your password. ____________________ (button) submit sign in your comments sign in sign out we reserve the right to remove any content at any time from this community, including without limitation if it violates the community standards. we ask that you report content that you in good faith believe violates the above rules by clicking the flag link next to the offending comment or by filling out this form. new comments are only accepted for 3 days from the date of publication. latest world at least 15 dead after earthquake hits indonesia’s sulawesi island 08:39 joe biden unveils $1.9tn coronavirus stimulus package 07:41 covid-19: uk bans travellers from south america and portugal 06:56 new york state attorney sues mayor and police commissioner over george floyd protests 00:36 coronavirus sparks exodus of foreign-born residents from uk 21:25 world view podcast world view - the foreign affairs podcast - eu vaccine rollout: who's doing well and who's lagging behind? world view - the foreign affairs podcast - eu vaccine rollout: who's doing well and who's lagging behind? 21:56 world view - the foreign affairs podcast - pro-trump rioters storm the us capitol world view - the foreign affairs podcast - pro-trump rioters storm the us capitol 26:07 world view - the challenges facing the biden administration - with thomas wright world view - the challenges facing the biden administration - with thomas wright 36:00 world view - our correspondents pick their moments of 2020 world view - our correspondents pick their moments of 2020 23:26 subscriber only you can expect to pay more for the goods you buy from british-based websites. photograph: istock q&a: how brexit has impacted online shopping from the uk how can we make sure our education system works for students, teachers and parents during this lockdown? photograph: getty how to lockdown-proof our education system micheál martin: it would be hard to overestimate the importance of vaccine delivery for the government. it will be the most important thing the coalition does in 2021. photograph: julien behal/pa beyond covid-19: what are the other challenges facing government in 2021? most read in news 1 ireland could be ‘in serious trouble’ if new variants ‘change rules’ – mike ryan 2 ‘the social worker said: were two seconds of pleasure worth it for all this?’ 3 new laws will give employees in the state the option to permanently work from home 4 bitter final chapter in the mike pence-donald trump relationship 5 coronavirus search: how is covid-19 spreading in your area? real news has value subscribe daily today daily stay on top of the latest news with our daily newsletters each morning, lunchtime and evening sign up subscribe about us policy & terms cookie settings subscribe * why subscribe? * subscription bundles * digital subscriptions faqs * gift subscriptions * home delivery irish times products & services * epaper * ebooks * crosswords * newspaper archive * email alerts & newsletters * article archive * executive jobs * page sales * photo sales about us * advertise * contact us * the irish times trust clg * careers download on the app store download on google play * our partners * rewarding times * myhome.ie * irish racing * top 1000 * myantiques.ie * the gloss * irish times training * terms & conditions * privacy policy * cookie information * cookie settings * community standards * copyright * faqs © 2018 the irish times for the best site experience please enable javascript in your browser settings sign in ____________________ ____________________ (button) sign in forgot password? don't have an account? subscribe * digital subscriptions faqs * subscriber only articles * the epaper * subscriber rewards * subscriber tour * breaking news app * my account * ebooks * email newsletters * crossword club * newspaper archive * sign out subscribe ____________________ (button) fri 15/1/2021 * news + coronavirus + ireland + world + politics + crime & law + health + education + subscriber only + epaper + brexit * sport + gaelic games + soccer + rugby + golf + racing + other sports + women in sport + comment * business + open for business + the economy + your money + companies + technology + work + commercial property + comment * opinion + editorials + letters + columnists + an irishman's diary + opinion & analysis + martyn turner * life & style + food & drink + homes & property + health & family + people + travel + motors + fashion + abroad * culture + books + film + music + stage + art & design + tv, radio, web + tuarascáil + heritage * more + you are what you read + ebooks + offers + jobs + family notices + competitions * video * podcasts + confronting coronavirus + inside politics + the women's podcast + inside business + added time + world view + back to yours + the irish times book club * executive jobs * crosswords * newsletters * notices ____________________ (button) ____________________ ____________________ forgot password? (button) sign in invalid email or password. not an irish times subscriber? subscribe * digital subscriptions faqs frequently asked questions about your digital subscription * subscriber only articles specially selected and available only to our subscribers * subscriber rewards exclusive offers, discounts and invitations * subscriber tour explore the features of your subscription * crossword club digital simplex and crosaire crosswords * newspaper archive 150 years of irish times journalism * my account manage your account * ebooks carefully curated selections of irish times writing * email newsletters sign up to get the stories you want delivered to your inbox * the epaper an exact digital replica of the printed paper * breaking news app our apple and android apps to read on the go * sign out * ____________________ (button) * top stories * features * news * personal stories * understanding europe * the european union * about * français * عربي * پښتو * دری (button) > (button) < * articles by country: * afghanistan * albania * algeria * andorra * angola * armenia * australia * austria * bahrain * bangladesh * belarus * belgium * benin * bosnia & herzegovina * brazil * bulgaria * burkina faso * burundi * cameroon * canada * canary islands * central african republic * ceuta & melilla * chad * china * colombia * congo - brazzaville * congo - kinshasa * côte d’ivoire * croatia * cyprus * czech republic * denmark * djibouti * dominican republic * egypt * equatorial guinea * eritrea * estonia * ethiopia * fiji * finland * france * france * french guiana * gabon * gambia * georgia * germany * ghana * gibraltar * grèce * greece * greenland * guinea * guinea-bissau * honduras * hungary * india * indonesia * iran * iraq * ireland * israel * italie * italy * jamaica * japan * jordan * kenya * kosovo * kuwait * kyrgyzstan * latvia * lebanon * liberia * libya * lithuania * luxembourg * madagascar * malawi * mali * malta * mauritania * mexico * moldova * montenegro * morocco * mozambique * myanmar (burma) * namibia * nauru * nepal * netherlands * new zealand * niger * nigeria * north macedonia * norway * pakistan * palestinian territories * panama * papua new guinea * peru * philippines * poland * portugal * qatar * romania * russia * rwanda * saudi arabia * senegal * serbia * sierra leone * slovakia * slovenia * somalia * south africa * south sudan * spain * sri lanka * sudan * sweden * switzerland * syria * tajikistan * tanzania * thailand * togo * tunisia * turkey * uganda * ukraine * united arab emirates * united kingdom * united states * vatican city * venezuela * vietnam * western sahara * yemen * zimbabwe please enable javascript in your browser for better use of the website. (button) infomigrants * عربي * français * دری * پښتو (button) news a still from the documentary 'invisibles', which focuses on unaccompanied minors in italy | photo: ansa/unicef a still from the documentary 'invisibles', which focuses on unaccompanied minors in italy | photo: ansa/unicef * unhcr * human rights * statelessness * statistics up to 15,000 stateless people in italy, unhcr estimates published on : 2019/11/15 * * * * by ansa published on : 2019/11/15 some 732 people are officially recognized as stateless in italy. but the real number could be between 3,000 and 15,000 people, according to a unhcr report on statelessness in italy, portugal, and spain. in italy, there are officially 732 stateless persons. however, due to the difficulty of identifying them, the actual number could be between 3,000 and 15,000 people. most of them came from former yugoslavia and arrived in italy when they were very young; or they were born in italy to yugoslavian migrant parents. a recent unhcr report on the impact of statelessness on access to human rights in italy, spain, and portugal contained these figures. a key issue, according to the paper, is how long it takes to be granted statelessness status in italy. the authors mention the case of dari as an example: it took the 28-year-old 13 years to get it. unhcr regional representative for southern europe roland schilling called on italy to make recognition procedures more accessible, effective and rapid. he also said that stateless people should be recognized as italian citizens at birth. italian law, he said, already provides for this but the law is not implemented. spain: 3,594 stateless people in portugal, there are 553 people officially recognized as stateless, many of whom were born and raised in portugal, but their families come from former portuguese colonies. in spain, between 2001 and 2016, some 3,594 people were recognized as stateless, most of whom were of sahrawi origins and migrated to spain. worldwide: 3.9+ million people stateless unhcr noted there are at least 3.9 million people in the world who are stateless. the real number is likely much higher, possibly around 10 million, considering that statistics for statelessness are available only for a third of all countries worldwide. what does it mean to be stateless? stateless people are not considered citizens of any country and thus are not assured access to rights linked to citizenship. these people often do not have access to basic rights such as being able to attend school, receive medical care, get a job, open a bank account, or get married. * * * * more articles * syrian refugee camp burned to ground in northern lebanon * refugee numbers hit record high in 2019: un report * 'don't block asylum rights over coronavirus,' grandi (unhcr) * hrw says burundian refugees pressured to leave tanzania top stories / news * * * * connect with infomigrants on * post your story * contact us * about * legal notice * français * عربي * دری * پښتو #foreign policy » how being stateless makes you poor comments feed alternate alternate alternate iframe: https://www.googletagmanager.com/ns.html?id=gtm-kvbchjc foreign policy magazine * sign in * subscribe subscribe upgrade to insider upgrade to insider * latest * news * analysis * podcasts * the magazine * channels + economics + security + elephants in the room + shadow government + her power ❌ close * newsletters * events your fp insider access: * power maps * conference calls * special reports search ____________________ search-submit latest jan. 6 changed tech forever silencing @realdonaldtrump was the easy part. now the hard work begins. argument | bhaskar chakravorti tokyo wants the olympics to happen even if the public doesn’t the japanese government is locked into what critics call a misguided project. argument | william sposato never give strongmen a second chance latin american history offers a clear lesson to the united states: ban donald trump from running for election ever again. argument | michael albertus time for a responsible clean energy supply chain renewable energy needs to be sourced responsibly and cleanly. argument | michael r. pompeo, francis r. fannon see all stories * fp events * fp studios * fp analytics * fp peacegames * subscription services * reprint permissions * writer’s guidelines * work at fp * fp guides – graduate education * fp for education * fp archive * buy back issues * meet the staff * advertise with fp * contact us * privacy policy * sign in * subscribe subscribe upgrade to insider upgrade search ____________________ search-submit (button) toggle display of website navigation argument: how being stateless makes you poor how being stateless makes you poor... share: share on facebook share on twitter share on linkedin share on whatsapp print this page share via email argument how being stateless makes you poor in today's world, a lack of citizenship isn't just a political problem — it's also an economic one. by jennifer guay | june 30, 2016, 12:21 pm gettyimages-511276784 crop gettyimages-511276784 crop for the first 24 years of his life, third-generation palestinian refugee waseem khrtabeel rarely noticed any difference between himself and his syrian neighbors. like his parents, khrtabeel was born and raised in damascus. he speaks with a distinct syrian accent, just like that of his many syrian friends. but khrtabeel is not like other syrians. he’s stateless. the first time khrtabeel, 30, grasped the magnitude of that word was in early 2010, after graduating from damascus university with a mechanical engineering degree. khrtabeel was elated when he secured an interview with the saudi binladin group, one of saudi arabia’s most prominent construction companies. on an unseasonably warm day in january, he arrived at the company’s recruiting office in southwestern damascus promptly at 2 p.m., energized and confident. he was shown the door less than seven minutes later. after exchanging pleasantries, the syrian recruiter asked khrtabeel about his background. when the word “palestine” escaped his lips, the recruiter interrupted, swiftly shutting down the interview. binladin does not hire palestinians, he said, offering hollow apologies. “i still remember that day. it was the first day i was shocked, like ‘i am palestinian, so i am not like other people,’” said khrtabeel, a small-statured, wiry man with dark, somber eyes. “there is no justice. i graduated from university; i have the same experience as my friends — but i have fewer chances to [improve myself] or find a job.” an estimated 10 to 15 million people around the world are stifled by the denial of privileges and protections that are afforded to citizens. the legal and political travails of stateless people are well known — many don’t have the right to vote, travel, own property, or move about freely. access to basic health care and education is sparse. but one of the most debilitating (and rarely acknowledged) effects of statelessness is chronic economic instability. without the legal right to work, the stateless find few avenues for upward mobility, leaving generation after generation to toil in poverty and obscurity — at the expense of both individuals and the states that host them. often lacking government-issued identification, stateless people are typically excluded from the formal labor market and relegated to unemployment or under-the-table work. as a result, the labor they must undertake often pays less, offers little job security, and can be dangerous and exploitative: the persecuted rohingya minority in burma, for instance, have been forced into unpaid military conscription. the desperately poor parents of stateless hill tribe children in thailand have sold their kin into trafficking, ignorant of the slavery, prostitution, and abuse that await them. as khrtabeel’s story demonstrates, even stateless people who have identification suffer widespread societal discrimination that limits their ability to find stable employment. as it turns out, some of the most pernicious consequences of statelessness have little to do with official state policies or geopolitical considerations. more often it’s a matter, pure and simple, of discrimination at the hands of ordinary people. in 2011, the u.s. state department commissioned middlesex university professor brad blitz, a leading expert on statelessness, to undertake the first study aimed at quantifying the economic cost of being stateless. after investigating the livelihoods of 980 stateless, formerly stateless, and citizen households in kenya, bangladesh, slovenia, and sri lanka, blitz’s team concluded that statelessness decreases both household income and spending by 34 percent, and home ownership by 60 percent. “these people are behind — and they’re behind because of existing patterns of societal discrimination. that’s what keeps them in these situations of poverty,” said blitz. blitz warns that the refugee crisis will exacerbate statelessness: “these children who are in protracted situations of displacement need the help, need the education — and time matters.” eager to avoid syria’s mandatory military conscription in the midst of a civil war, khrtabeel sought work everywhere from the gulf states to africa. he was met only with rejection. finally, in 2012, khrtabeel found engineering work in erbil, the capital of iraqi kurdistan, where the stateless kurds could commiserate with his troubles. khrtabeel found the city uninspiring, but doubted he would find work elsewhere — so he stayed for three and a half years, until the encroaching terror of the islamic state stalled the construction industry and khrtabeel was forced to flee. after an arduous three-week journey to europe and 65 days spent in dutch camps, khrtabeel now lives in haarlem, a small, scenic city an hour west of amsterdam. he spends his days in a classroom taking intensive dutch courses in hopes of improving his job prospects. he presents his netherlands-issued i.d. card with pride, pointing out his clearly marked nationality status: staatloos. khrtabeel speaks to his parents, who remain in damascus, every day: “every time my mom asks me, ‘when will you take me there?’ i have to say, ‘soon, when i get a job.’” khrtabeel is doing his best to forge a stable life in his new surroundings, but years of economic discrimination plague him. “we know from existing research that to be stateless means that it’s harder to go to school” said laura van waas, co-director of the institute on statelessness and inclusion, an ngo based in the netherlands. “it’s harder to complete school and get a diploma. it’s harder to work in the legal, public sector. it’s harder or impossible to own property, register a business, buy a car, and get a mobile phone contract.” although van waas assumes the economic disempowerment of stateless populations comes at a cost to national economies, she said it’s difficult to grasp the magnitude of damage done due lack of research. she’s right about that. currently there’s virtually no serious scholarly scrutiny of the toll statelessness takes on a country’s economy. without the right to legally work, the stateless do little to contribute to formal economies via employment, taxes, and discretionary spending. the drain of these destitute populations may manifest in little more than a dent in the economies of large countries. but for a small state like brunei, which has a population of under half a million and over 20,000 stateless people within its borders, awarding them citizenship could lead to a marked improvement in gdp. studies on naturalizing undocumented migrants in the u.s. seem to support this hypothesis. meanwhile, the stateless continue to dwell in the shadows — even in notoriously inclusive countries like canada, where multiculturalism is embraced as a way of life and where refugees have been welcomed with open arms. qia gunster was born in tucson, arizona in 1996 to a young american woman who failed to register his birth. after 18 months of motherhood, she realized that she wasn’t ready to be a single parent. she decided to bring her child to mcbride, a 586-person community in british colombia, canada, where she had friends she trusted. she crossed the border illegally to avoid questions from the authorities and left her child with eric gunster, an acquaintance who raised qia alongside his family. her act of negligence after his birth sealed her son’s fate as an outsider — one whose childhood, adolescence, and young adult life would be blighted by discrimination. gunster, 20, has spent his life fighting to fit into a society determined to ignore his very existence. without government-issued i.d., he couldn’t legally work, drive, apply for a credit card, or go to a bar with his friends. gunster was forced to adopt a thick-skinned resourcefulness, earning the money he lives on through under-the-table labor ranging from tree planting to electrical work. “no company will hire you without a driver’s license. you can’t imagine how hard it is, trying to get a job,” said gunster, who feels wholly canadian, and speaks with an unmistakable western canada twang. “if i was to go somewhere and apply for a job and they were to say, ‘no, we won’t take you because you’re black, or because you’re a woman,’ it would be all over the news, and that’d be the worst thing imaginable. but if you’re stateless and you’re born into a situation you have no control over, it’s ok to discriminate.” after a hard-fought battle abetted by a great deal of local media attention, canada’s immigration authority finally granted gunster permanent resident status in mid-march. he must wait another four years to apply for citizenship, despite the fact that he has lived in the country all of his life. his biggest problem now, he said, is dealing with “resentment.” “when i’m not allowed to function in society the way that they want me to, the only path in life for me to be able to survive is anything illegal,” he said dryly. “it’s definitely more than a physical battle — you know, finding a job — it’s definitely a huge mental battle, because it totally changes your perspective on life.” the sustainable development goals adopted by the united nations last september aim to “provide legal identity for all” by 2030. it’s a valiant aim, but most countries continue to neglect the “invisible people” within their borders, refusing to collect data, let alone assign government-issued i.d. only a few thousand stateless people across the world have identification cards acknowledging their status, according to statelessness researcher bronwen manby. the first step towards alleviating discrimination against non-citizens would be issuing widespread identification, thereby allowing them legal entry to the formal labor market — a move that would prove financially advantageous to both the stateless and the state. however, this assumes that states want to solve the problem. the worst offenders — states that intentionally exclude subsets of their population — vehemently deny or ignore the presence of these vulnerable people for political reasons. it has proven difficult for outsiders to push for reforms without infringing on these states’ right to sovereignty. even if widespread policy aimed at integrating the stateless into mainstream society is adopted, it will take decades to wipe out the prejudice that haunts people like gunster and khrtabeel. “it’s really tough to start your life three times. i deserve to…” khrtabeel’s voice breaks. his transparent expressions betray a gamut of emotions, volleying between exasperation and despair. “if i was a normal guy, i think i would be in a different situation now, because i worked hard in damascus, and in erbil, and have to work hard here — three times. if i combined them into one city, i would be in a totally different place.” khrtabeel no longer sees his stateless status as a hindrance in the job market. now that he is safe in the netherlands, it’s a psychological issue he has to grapple with on his own. “i feel from inside that we are not complete people,” said khrtabeel, his tone at once defeated and defiant. “i will not bring another generation of our family [into the world] to suffer more.” in the photo, stateless kuwaiti men from the bidoon community sit around a fire in the ‘jungle’ migrant and refugee camp in calais, northern france, on february 19. photo credit: philippe huguen/afp/getty images view comments tags: democracy lab, human rights, middle east, syria trending now sponsored links by taboola by taboola more from foreign policy by taboola latest jan. 6 changed tech forever january 14, 2021, 4:35 pm tokyo wants the olympics to happen even if the public doesn’t january 14, 2021, 3:15 pm never give strongmen a second chance january 14, 2021, 2:17 pm time for a responsible clean energy supply chain january 14, 2021, 1:26 pm democracy at home and democracy promotion abroad aren’t the same january 14, 2021, 12:59 pm see all stories trending 1. 1 ‘we’re in a worse place today than we were before he came in’ 2. 2 trump’s final foreign-policy report card 3. 3 democracy at home and democracy promotion abroad aren’t the same 4. 4 china puts millions of people back under lockdown 5. 5 as merkel prepares to step down, the future of german conservatism is open voices how to know you’ve lost your grip on reason stephen m. walt bengaluru is the new shenzhen as apps displace devices salvatore babones the trump mob combined the worst of left and right james traub foreign policy magazine foreign policy magazine * fp events * fp studios * fp analytics * fp peacegames * subscription services * reprint permissions * writer’s guidelines * work at fp * fp guides – graduate education * fp for education * fp archive * buy back issues * meet the staff * advertise with fp * contact us * privacy policy powered by wordpress.com vip © 2021, the slate group #atlantic council » feed alternate alternate alternate [atlantic council - white logotype.svg] * issues * regions * insights & impact * people * programs * events site logo mon, jul 20, 2020 statelessness in ukraine: new law offers fresh hope ukrainealert by eric fritz and kseniia karahiaur human rights international norms ukraine * get involved * support the council * sign up * about the council * media * careers home issues regions search menu + * issues * regions * insights & impact * people * programs * events * get involved * support the council * sign up * about the council * media * careers (button) ____________________ search suggestions * {{ suggestion }} total results {{ currentcount }}/{{ totalcount }} {{ searchresult.post_type }} {{ searchresult.date }} {{ searchresult.author.name }} load more * issues + * region + * focus + filter results hide statelessness in ukraine: new law offers fresh hope almost thirty years since the collapse of the ussr, statelessness remains a significant issue in independent ukraine, but new legislation aims to make it easier for stateless residents to gain legal status. reuters/gleb garanich on july 18, a new law governing stateless determination procedures entered into force in ukraine. human rights advocates say the legislation, signed earlier in the week by ukrainian president volodymyr zelenskyy, could significantly expand access to social rights for thousands of stateless individuals in ukraine. the ukrainian government now has three months to pass bylaws and enact new policies to bring the facts on the ground into line with the new legislation. law 2335 is meant to bring ukraine into compliance with the provisions of the 1954 statelessness convention and the 1961 convention on the reduction of statelessness, both of which ukraine acceded to in 2013. in line with the aforementioned international treaties, ukrainian legislation will now define a stateless person as “someone who is not considered as a citizen by any state under the operation of its law.” this legislative change also introduces clear procedures for the determination of statelessness, while placing the burden on the state to establish that an individual is not a citizen of another country. meanwhile, the new law explicitly indicates the statelessness determination procedure as being available to persons not legally present in ukraine. this is a crucial aspect of the law because the vast majority of stateless persons in ukraine have lived in the country for many years, if not their entire lives. subscribe for the latest from ukrainealert ukrainealert is a comprehensive online publication that provides regular news and analysis on developments in ukraine’s politics, economy, civil society, and culture. * email ____________________ * * submit iframe: gform_ajax_frame_6 statelessness remains a massive challenge for the entire post-soviet region. upon the collapse of the soviet union, many individuals, especially elderly people, those living in isolated rural areas, or people from minority communities, never exchanged their soviet passports for updated identity documents issued by the newly independent nations of the former ussr. by failing to undergo this bureaucratic procedure, tens of thousands of people became legally nonexistent. almost three decades since the soviet union ceased to exist, the true scale of the statelessness problem remains a subject of considerable debate. the last extensive data on statelessness in ukraine came via the country’s most recent nationwide census in 2001. this determined that there were 82,550 stateless persons present in the country at the time. there has not been another census since then. this extended lull means that current estimates of statelessness in ukraine are considered unreliable and vary wildly. the unhcr estimates that there are still more than 35,600 stateless persons in the country. however, in 2018 the world bank reported that there were an extraordinary 1.27 million undocumented persons living in ukraine, which would indicate a far larger stateless population than previously imagined. the murkiness surrounding the actual numbers of stateless people in today’s ukraine has only been exacerbated by the ongoing conflict with russia in the east of the country. many families with already flimsy personal documentation have been forced to flee from their homes in eastern ukraine since 2014, often losing their familial connections and personal identity documents in the process. moreover, less than 50% of children born in non-government controlled areas of ukraine over the past six years have been issued with birth certificates by the ukrainian government, which puts them at risk of statelessness as well. for these tens of thousands of people, the new legislation could prove a saving grace. fri, jan 15, 2021 unlocking ukraine’s enormous potential 9:00am while the introduction of new legislation is welcome, it will not act as a panacea for stateless persons and those at risk of statelessness in ukraine. iryna aleksieieva, a statelessness expert with the humanitarian ngo right to protection, suggests that the legal challenges are only half the battle facing ukraine. “we need to be mindful about identification efforts so that we can reach the people who most need to know about the legal changes,” she comments. “stateless people have typically been socially excluded for a long time. they are often elderly people without internet access. sometimes they are illiterate. stateless people need a helping hand and a bit of guidance to know how to exercise their right to obtain a legal identity.” simply announcing ukraine’s legislative changes through normal media channels will not bring the news to those who need this information the most. aleksieieva and other human rights advocates suggest ukraine’s new laws would have a greater impact if they were accompanied by a much broader outreach effort, with officials even going so far as to conduct door-to-door identification efforts in remote communities. this approach produced significant results in kyrgyzstan. however, such an initiative would require greater international attention and more funding for what remains an often overlooked human rights challenge. for now, ukraine’s legislative changes at least present an opportunity for stateless persons to achieve legal status. they provide that, upon submission of their applications, applicants will be given a certificate establishing their legal presence in ukraine for the duration of the procedure. if their application is then approved, some individuals may even be put on the path towards acquiring ukrainian citizenship. this could allow tens of thousands of people who were previously stuck on the fringes of society to enter into legal employment, buy or rent housing, get an education, receive social security payments, and get married. they would also be able to move about freely both inside and outside ukraine, and generally live like normal residents of ukraine. eric fritz is a project manager with right to protection based out of kyiv. kseniia karahiaur is a legal analyst with right to protection focusing on statelessness, also based in kyiv. further reading statelessness in ukraine: new law offers fresh hope statelessness in ukraine: new law offers fresh hope wed, jun 17, 2020 one million passports: putin has weaponized citizenship in occupied eastern ukraine moscow plans to issue one million russian passports to residents of russian-occupied eastern ukraine by the end of 2020 in a bid to prolong the six-year conflict between russia and ukraine indefinitely. ukrainealert by peter dickinson conflict national security statelessness in ukraine: new law offers fresh hope statelessness in ukraine: new law offers fresh hope sun, may 31, 2020 to stop putin, the western world must revisit the 1994 budapest memorandum ukraine’s deputy pm for reintegration of the temporarily occupied territories oleksii reznikov says trust must be rebuilt before there can be peace with russia. returning to the framework of the budapest memorandum would be a step in the right direction, he argues. ukrainealert by oleksii reznikov conflict nuclear nonproliferation statelessness in ukraine: new law offers fresh hope statelessness in ukraine: new law offers fresh hope wed, jul 8, 2020 ukrainian resorts see 30% growth as coronavirus crisis boosts domestic tourism with international travel still heavily restricted due to the ongoing coronavirus crisis, ukraine’s black sea holiday resorts are experiencing a major boost as ukrainians spend their vacations closer to home. ukrainealert by peter dickinson coronavirus ukraine the views expressed in ukrainealert are solely those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the views of the atlantic council, its staff, or its supporters. [lazy_placeholder.gif] [silver-ringvee-hzvvwvhk3g-unsplash-500x350.jpg] read more from ukrainealert ukrainealert is a comprehensive online publication that provides regular news and analysis on developments in ukraine’s politics, economy, civil society, and culture. read more the eurasia center’s mission is to enhance transatlantic cooperation in promoting stability, democratic values and prosperity in eurasia, from eastern europe and turkey in the west to the caucasus, russia and central asia in the east. explore the program follow us on social media support the eurasia center subscribe to our new fast thinking news alerts want to be the first to get up to speed on the meaning of big, breaking international developments? we have you covered! sign up to receive rapid insight in your inbox from atlantic council experts on global events as they unfold. * email* ____________________ * subscribe iframe: gform_ajax_frame_64 * issues * regions * insights & impact * people * programs * events * get involved * support the council * sign up * about the council * media * careers site logo © 2020 atlantic council all rights reserved. * privacy policy * cookie policy * terms and conditions of use * intellectual independence policy * government funding review process * policy on donor acceptance and disclosure * photo credits iframe: https://www.googletagmanager.com/ns.html?id=gtm-wdzxtm6 this website or its third-party tools use cookies, which are necessary for its functioning and required to achieve the purposes illustrated in the cookie policy. you accept the use of cookies as per our cookie policy and privacy policy by closing or dismissing this notice, by scrolling this page, by clicking a link or button or by continuing to browse otherwise. ok #alternate alternate bbc homepage * skip to content * accessibility help * bbc account * home * news * sport * reel * worklife * travel * future * culture * menumore search * home * news * sport * reel * worklife * travel * future * culture * music * tv * weather * sounds (button) close menu bbc news menu * home * coronavirus * video * world * uk * business * tech * science * stories * entertainment & arts * health more * world news tv * in pictures * reality check * newsbeat * long reads * world * africa * asia * australia * europe * latin america * middle east * us & canada stateless in africa: why 700,000 have their 'dreams ended' stateless in africa: why 700,000 have their 'dreams ended' (button) noclose sixteen-year-old peter should be preparing for his future by taking his final exams. however, he is one of the 700,000 stateless citizens in africa, which means he won't be able to finish his schooling. peter is part of a small shona community in kenya, whose zimbabwean ancestors travelled to nairobi as missionaries in the 60s. that means he is neither a citizen of kenya or zimbabwe. christine njeri from bbc what's new? reports on what the african union is planning on doing to secure these people their future. published 11 june 2019 section bbc news subsection africa related * 'why being stateless ends my dreams' video, 00:02:07'why being stateless ends my dreams' published 11 june 2019 section bbc news subsection africa 2:07 peter * up next, 'african parents don’t like creative careers' video, 00:01:45'african parents don’t like creative careers' published 27 april 2019 section bbc news subsection africa up next 1:45 paige cole * 'i hid my football boots from my parents' video, 00:01:56'i hid my football boots from my parents' published 3 april 2019 section bbc sport subsection sport africa 1:56 jj roble refereeing * 'i make zombies for nollywood' video, 00:01:47'i make zombies for nollywood' published 18 november 2018 section bbc news subsection africa 1:47 * being a male make-up artist in senegal. video, 00:01:29being a male make-up artist in senegal published 10 april 2018 section bbc news subsection africa 1:29 * woman's surreal make-up an instagram hit. video, 00:01:05woman's surreal make-up an instagram hit published 13 september 2018 section bbc news subsection nottingham 1:05 * 'she's so pretty, she looks like me' video, 00:00:59'she's so pretty, she looks like me' published 3 january 2019 section bbc news subsection africa 0:59 recommended * young, black and more likely to die. video, 00:05:14young, black and more likely to die published 8 hours ago section bbc news subsection latin america & caribbean 5:14 two teenagers killed by the police * inside the world's richest esports player's mansion. video, 00:06:42inside the world's richest esports player's mansion published 8 hours ago section bbc news subsection technology 6:42 johan sundstein's mansion * covid ward revisited 10 months on. video, 00:04:25covid ward revisited 10 months on published 1 day ago section bbc news subsection uk 4:25 fergal keane * an amazon predator that 'zaps' prey. video, 00:00:58an amazon predator that 'zaps' prey published 14 hours ago section bbc news subsection science & environment 0:58 electric eel * spectacular ‘tree of life’ found in australian lake. video, 00:01:54spectacular ‘tree of life’ found in australian lake published 1 day ago section bbc news subsection australia 1:54 tree of life pattern in lake * the rappers taking on thailand's leaders. video, 00:03:46the rappers taking on thailand's leaders published 1 day ago section bbc news subsection asia 3:46 rap against dictatorship * one-minute world news. video, 00:01:03one-minute world news published 24 minutes ago section bbc news 1:03 one-minute world news summary * polly and molly the jumping piglets. video, 00:01:17polly and molly the jumping piglets published 1 day ago section bbc news subsection uk 1:17 pigs jumping * huge alabama crowds ignore covid to celebrate win. video, 00:00:41huge alabama crowds ignore covid to celebrate win published 2 days ago section bbc news subsection us & canada 0:41 fans gathering * 'i receive 20 to 30 abusive messages a day' video, 00:02:35'i receive 20 to 30 abusive messages a day' published 2 days ago section bbc news subsection london 2:35 nhs abuse * home * news * sport * reel * worklife * travel * future * culture * music * tv * weather * sounds * terms of use * about the bbc * privacy policy * cookies * accessibility help * parental guidance * contact the bbc * get personalised newsletters * why you can trust the bbc * advertise with us * adchoices / do not sell my info © 2021 bbc. the bbc is not responsible for the content of external sites. read about our approach to external linking. #alternate skip to main content iframe: googletagmanager-gtm-wbdqq5 unicef logo europe and central asia (button) toggle navigation * english * русский global links * unicef global * high contrast unicef logo europe and central asia * + explore unicef + about us + our mandate + the situation for children + where we work + our voices: young people from the region + ambassadors and supporters + partners press centre donate main navigation * what we do * research and reports * stories * take action search area has closed. search area has opened. searchclose search unicef fulltext search ______________________________ apply article stateless in kazakhstan: yerbol’s story european union supported programme ensuring every child has a legal identity dinara saliyeva yerbol, 10 years old, outside of his house in shymkent, south kazakhstan with his brother and mother. unicef kazkhstan/dinara salieva 27 march 2019 at the age of 10, yerbol already knows what it feels like to be invisible to the state. when he was born here in shymkent, kazakhstan, his mother zhamilya could not get a birth certificate for him because she did not have the necessary documents. as a result, yerbol was left without state support from the earliest days of his life – he had no access to the free medical services and education that is every child’s right. to put it simply, no documents meant yerbol was not a person. “luckily, yerbol has never been sick, so there was no need to go to the clinic. yet, all these years, he has not been vaccinated”, says zhamilya. “and by the time he had to go to school he was not accepted because of the absence of a birth certificate and an iin (individual identification number)”. so, how did yerbol become stateless? in 2002, zhamilya, her mother and sisters moved from uzbekistan to kazakhstan. as an ethnic kazakh, zhamilya planned to get registered as a repatriate. but the procedures turned out to be so complicated and so expensive that she postponed the whole process. “i went to the migration police to find out how to retrieve documents, but they scolded me for not submitting the documents in time and threatened me with a fine. they even said that they could arrest me for the violation of the rules. i burst into tears, got frightened and gave up going there,” said zhamilya. when it was time for yerbol to go to school, zhamilya faced another problem. the school would not accept him without personal documents. she did not know what to do and decided to postpone his enrolment for a year. a year later, the school’s response was the same. yerbol, 10, is having tea with his friend and brother. unicef kazakhstan/dinara salieva yerbol, 10, having tea with his friend and brother. yerbol says he feels embarrassed at school because he is oldest among his classmates. yerbol is one of the many stateless children in kazakhstan and missed several years of schooling because of issues with documents. zhamilya went back to the migration police, where she was referred to the district police department. there, she saw a poster with information about the legal center of women's initiatives, ‘sana sezim’, an organization that has been supporting stateless people in kazakhstan since 2016. the organization works closely with unicef, unhcr and iom to prevent and support stateless children and their families zhamilya went to them for help. the organization’s lawyer, ildar haliulin accompanied zhamilya to the hospital, retrieved yerbol’s birth confirmation from the archive and helped to get his birth certificate. while the documents were being prepared, the boy started school with the help of the department of education. sana sezim also helped zhamilya process all required documents to get a stateless person’s certificate, which in time opens the way for obtaining kazakh citizenship. “children have the right to go to school regardless of their migration status,” says kulzina ualikhanova from the department of education in the kazakhstan city shymkent. sadly, yerbol’s story is not unique. as kulzina explains, not all schools accept children without an individual identification number, and parents must contact the department of education – but many are not aware of these procedures. having been turned away by a school, many parents simply do not know what to do – and stop trying. the newly introduced electronic school diary - a digital system where children in secondary school and their parents can track all of their information related to school, including their courses and grades - requires a child’s individual identification number (inn). this means that children without an iin cannot enroll in secondary school, or post-secondary education. yerbol is now in the third grade, two grades behind most children his age. “i wish i could study with my peers, and i feel ashamed of studying with children younger than me,” he says. his mother encourages him and says that now he will be able to achieve his dream of becoming an astronaut. when yerbol goes outside to play with his friends, zhamilya admits that she feels guilty for the suffering her son endured because of the mistakes made by adults. unicef and stateless children unicef is working to strengthen mechanisms to support and protect the rights of children affected by migration with financial support from the european union. in kazakhstan, this eu supported work focuses on: * improving protection mechanisms and case management for children affected by migration, always with the best interests of the child and family-based care prioritized. * enhancing the training of social workers, law enforcement and migration officers. * strengthening national legislation and data collection on children affected by migration. our work aims to strengthen systems for vulnerable children affected by migration, including timely responses to their cases, improving the quality of social and psychological support and birth registration, and increasing access to health and education services. in december 2016, unhcr and unicef launched the global coalition on every child’s right to a nationality. the coalition aims to expand and strengthen international cooperation to raise public awareness about stateless children, and to promote the right of every child to a nationality. related topics child protection birth registration kazakhstan more to explore shipment of over 300,000 ampoules of dexamethasone and 2,000 pulse oximeters press release eu humanitarian aid to kazakhstan brought by unicef a shipment of over 300,000 ampoules of dexamethasone and 2,000 pulse oximeters visit the page workspace article employment opportunities for survivors of trafficking unicef albania cooperates with public institutions to establish more employment opportunities for survivors and those at risk of trafficking read the story the unisat project article girls' satellites soar to the stars kazakhstan’s nanosatellite initiative propels girls to the forefront of science and technology. read the story artyom kostyrko article education in rural kazakhstan during the pandemic primary schools continue to provide offline education under the strict new rules read the story footer unicef home * what we do * situation for children * where we work data, research and reports * publications * partners * ambassadors and supporters become a donor social * * * footer secondary * contact us * legal #alternate alternate alternate isis cases raise a question: what does it mean to be stateless? (button) (button) sections (button) search skip to contentskip to site index middle east today’s paper middle east|isis cases raise a question: what does it mean to be stateless? https://nyti.ms/2gi4er4 * * * * (button) * advertisement continue reading the main story supported by continue reading the main story isis cases raise a question: what does it mean to be stateless? * * * * (button) * a detention camp in syria holding people who fled areas that had been under the control of the islamic state. a detention camp in syria holding people who fled areas that had been under the control of the islamic state.credit...ivor prickett for the new york times by megan specia * feb. 22, 2019 leer en español shamima begum was 15 when she became radicalized, left her home in london for syria and joined the islamic state, marrying one of its fighters. as the group’s grip on its last pieces of territory slipped, ms. begum, 19 and pregnant, fled to a refugee camp in northern syria. when she met a british reporter there, she made one thing clear: she wanted to come home. but britain’s home office informed her family by letter of its plans to strip her of her citizenship. the government says it is acting to protect the british public first. but a lawyer for ms. begum, who recently gave birth to a baby boy, said the move would render the british-born woman stateless. the dilemma of what to do with citizens of western countries who threw in their lot with the islamic state before it was largely ousted from syria has set off a debate over citizenship and the statelessness that might result from stripping some of them of their nationality. it is an issue faced not just by ms. begum. the united states looked poised to follow suit when on wednesday secretary of state mike pompeo issued a statement saying that hoda muthana, a young american-born woman who left college in alabama to join the islamic state, “is not a u.s. citizen.” ms. muthana, he said, could not return home. image shamima begum at gatwick airport in 2015, as she prepared to leave england. shamima begum at gatwick airport in 2015, as she prepared to leave england.credit...london metroplitan police/epa, via shutterstock however appealing it may appear to governments that want to send a powerful message to those who turn against their own countries, legal experts warn of long-term problems if the stranded islamic state members end up stateless. “this is leaving people homeless without protection, and destroying any form of international cooperation,” said clive baldwin, a senior legal adviser for human rights watch. what is statelessness and how widespread is it? the united nations refugee agency defines a stateless person as someone who does not have the nationality of any country. some are born stateless because of gaps in nationality laws — in effect, they fall through the cracks. others become stateless as new nations emerge, or borders change. and some have their nationality revoked. it can mean a life in perpetual limbo, said david baluarte, an expert on statelessness and professor of law at washington and lee university. “they are constantly living in the shadows, potentially sought out by immigration officials or security forces,” he said. “their reality is one of sort of perpetual threat of immigration detention or potential for removal to another country.” image rohingya people stranded in a buffer zone between myanmar and bangladesh last year.credit...adam dean for the new york times at least 10 million people globally are stateless, and most — more than 75 percent — are part of minority groups in the countries where they reside. the rohingya of myanmar, the nubians of kenya, dominicans of haitian descent and the bidoon of saudi arabia are just some of the communities denied nationality. “it’s unfortunately not uncommon for governments to identify an ethnically or racially or religiously disfavored group and then to sort of systematically write laws that strip the fundamental rights of those people,” mr. baluarte said. the case against statelessness. since the end of world war ii — in part as a response to nazi germany’s stripping jews of their citizenship before rounding them up and shipping them to ghettos and then concentration camps — international law has codified protections for the stateless. two united nations conventions on statelessness, in 1954 and 1961, laid out basic principles of human rights for those without a nationality. they also sought to limit the deprivation of nationality in cases when it would make someone stateless. some 61 nations, including britain, are signatories. “that legal protection exists, so states that are stripping people of nationality and leaving them stateless are violating that law,” mr. baluarte said. image members of kenya’s nubian community are often denied nationality.credit...agence france-presse — getty images the united states has its own precedent. in 1958, the supreme court ruled in trop v. dulles that it was unconstitutional to revoke citizenship and make someone stateless as a punishment for a crime. “citizenship is not a license that expires upon misbehavior,” the justices wrote. but the lessons of the past, some fear, are being lost. “civilized nations after world war ii saw how abusive the stripping of citizenship that would leave someone stateless was,” mr. baluarte said. “but we are bringing ourselves back to a place where we have forgotten how desperate the situation of statelessness was. and having this new wave of politically motivated expatriation is really troubling.” unicef has also urged countries to consider the best interests of children when weighing stripping citizenship from islamic state recruits who are parents. “every child has the right to a name, an identity and a nationality,” the organization said in a statement. sajid javid, britain’s home secretary, has taken a hard line on the citizenship issue, but speaking to parliament, he seemed to suggest that ms. begum’s newborn son would retain his citizenship. “children should not suffer,” he said. “so if a parent does lose their british citizenship, it does not affect the rights of their child.” the risk of returning islamic state members. mr. javid vowed wednesday in parliament to stop those who had joined the islamic state from returning to britain. he said the home office could bar non-british citizens from the country or strip “dangerous individuals” of their british citizenship. image hoda muthana with her baby son at a detention camp in syria.credit...ivor prickett for the new york times “i’ve been resolute that where they pose any threat to this country, i will do everything in my power to prevent their return,” mr. javid said. “they turned their back on this country to support a group that butchered and beheaded innocent civilians, including british citizens.” the home office said in a statement that mr. javid has the power to deprive people of their british citizenship where it would not render them stateless. the office did not comment on ms. begum’s case specifically, but the british authorities are reported to believe they can act against her because her mother has a passport from bangladesh. however, according to tasnime akunjee, a lawyer for ms. begum’s family, the young woman is not a citizen of bangladesh, and that country has said she will not be allowed entry. that would render her stateless. mr. clive of human rights watch said taking away citizenship “on the whims of a minister” is setting a bad precedent. beyond that, it can make it hard to hold people legally accountable for their actions. “if you want justice,” mr. clive said, “it’s much more likely that if people return to their homes, in europe, in tunisia — where lots of people who joined isis are from — there is a lot more possibility justice can be done.” in the case of ms. muthana, the islamic state volunteer from alabama, mr. pompeo’s statement that she is not an american citizen contradicts information given by her family and lawyer. hassan shibly, a lawyer with the council on american-islamic relations who is advising the family, said ms. muthana was not a yemeni citizen. he provided a birth certificate for her that showed she was born in hackensack, n.j., in 1994. if ms. muthana joins the ranks of the stateless, said mr. baldwin, the human rights watch legal adviser, that would pose far more risk than bringing her home and investigating her involvement with the islamic state. “if they are stateless, where are they going to go?” he said. “no country has any obligation to take them. that is not the recipe for a stable government. it’s likely the recipe for more radicalization.” advertisement continue reading the main story site index site information navigation * © 2021 the new york times company * nytco * contact us * work with us * advertise * t brand studio * your ad choices * privacy policy * terms of service * terms of sale * site map * canada * international * help * subscriptions iframe: https://www.googletagmanager.com/ns.html?id=gtm-p528b3>m_auth=tfazqo1 rydlgyhmtnsjpqw>m_preview=env-130>m_cookies_win=x #rss feed iframe: https://www.googletagmanager.com/ns.html?id=gtm-wx3mpkr [tr?id=258142308724354&ev=pageview&noscript=1] home our story our mission what we do annual report 2019 our work regions issues reports and briefs advocacy letters events and speeches critical advice for biden-harris administration refugee advocacy lab our people advocates staff board advisory council blog media contact us statements get involved events ways to give join our team newsletter signup donate refugees international home our story our mission what we do annual report 2019 our work regions issues reports and briefs advocacy letters events and speeches critical advice for biden-harris administration refugee advocacy lab our people advocates staff board advisory council blog media contact us statements get involved events ways to give join our team newsletter signup donate “we have a state”: confronting the statelessness of the rohingya people  june 3, 2019 blog post ana-sofia gonzalez “we have a state”: confronting the statelessness of the rohingya people ana-sofia gonzalez june 3, 2019 blog post “we have a state”: confronting the statelessness of the rohingya people ana-sofia gonzalez june 3, 2019 blog post “we are not stateless. stop calling us that,” muhib ullah, leader of the rohingya civil society group arakan rohingya society for peace and human rights, said before the un human rights council last month. “we have a state. it is myanmar. so we want to go home to myanmar with our rights, our citizenship, and international security on the ground.” less than two years ago, the plight of the rohingya minority reached international headlines with an ethnic cleansing campaign at the hands of myanmar’s security forces that prompted more than 700,000 people to flee to bangladesh. the roots of the crisis, however, can be traced back several decades. the myanmar government’s refusal to offer the rohingya citizenship has rendered them effectively stateless, denied basic rights and protections. in fact, they are the largest stateless population in the world. this statelessness is a key factor perpetuating the conflict in myanmar to this day. the stateless status of the rohingya leaves them easily susceptible to discrimination. stateless persons typically cannot obtain legal documents, do not have access to education, healthcare, or employment, cannot participate in the political process, and do not enjoy freedom of movement. myanmar’s 1982 citizenship law, which only offers a path to citizenship for members of one of 135 national ethnic races, excludes the rohingya. this leaves the minority group with limited options in terms of citizenship status, freedom of movement, and access to livelihoods. though other forms of citizenship are offered under the citizenship law, such as associate and naturalized status, a vast majority of rohingya cannot even obtain partial citizenship due to stringent requirements to provide documents that have often been lost or confiscated. in recent years, the government of myanmar has set up a national verification card (nvc) process for citizenship but the rohingya community does not consider it trustworthy. nvcs do not guarantee a significant change of rights or benefits. even the rohingya who have received nvcs continue to face extremely restricted movement. additionally, rohingya who have received some semblance of recognition in in the past, with temporary identification cards, have experienced the invalidation and revocation of their legal documents. as a result, the rohingya people, understandably, have little faith in citizenship applications. today, myanmar’s laws leave the rohingya in stateless status despite the fact that they can trace their family roots back generations. previously some have enjoyed the right to citizenship and the right to vote and hold office. for these reasons, many rohingya reject the being considered stateless. to them the fact that myanmar is their state is clear. in order to address the root causes of the rohingya crisis appropriately, statelessness in particular, we must create a solution-oriented response: * citizenship must be granted and restored to the rohingya people. * the discriminatory 1982 citizenship law must be amended to align with international human rights standards. * any verification process must be credible and transparent. * the application process should be made simpler, with less stringent requirements on past documents that are likely to have been lost or confiscated. * the details of the process should be clearly conveyed through widespread outreach campaigns. * the rohingya must be able to fully enjoy freedom of movement with or without an nvc as this will allow them the basic right to mobility that is made incredibly difficult to achieve when restricted to only those who have documentation. these recommendations are backed by the final report of the advisory commission on rakhine state, which was supported by the government of myanmar, as well as the un fact-finding mission on myanmar. statelessness remains at the heart of the rohingya crisis. the failure to effectively address this root cause has affected not only rohingya in myanmar but more than 1 million refugees who have fled to other countries. amending and reforming the citizenship process can not only improve the situation of the few hundred thousand still in myanmar but also offer a path for all the refugees that hope to one day return safely home. ana-sofia gonzalez served as a program intern at refugees international in the spring of 2019. tagged: rohingya, myanmar, asia newer postamid mozambique’s devastation, hope for victims of cyclone idai older post'remain in mexico' policy pushes asylum seekers into grave danger back to top refugees international(202) 828-0110ri@refugeesinternational.org mailing address: refugees international po box 33036 washington, dc 20033 street address: 1800 m street, nw suite 405n washington, dc 20036 ri@refugeesinternational.org © 2020 refugees international all rights reserved. donate latest reports blog contact us newsletter sign up financials privacy policy refugees international advocates for lifesaving assistance and protection for displaced people and promotes solutions to displacement crises. we do not accept any government or un funding, ensuring the independence and credibility of our work. iframe: https://www.googletagmanager.com/ns.html?id=gtm-wx3mpkr