Having a nationality is a basic human right – so basic that it amounts to a “right to have rights”. Not having a nationality is to be marginalised, not to belong. When people lack birth certificates, identity cards, passports and other documents, they risk being excluded from education, healthcare, social assistance and the right to vote. A stateless person may not be able to travel or work legally. Thus many stateless persons have little possibility to make themselves heard and are in many cases silenced by fear of discrimination. Moreover, the statelessness is transmitted from one generation to another - children are sometimes denied their right to a nationality just because their parents are stateless.

Governments, ombudsmen, national human rights institutions and non-governmental organisations should take action to defend the rights of stateless people.