Statelessness and access to nationality
Statelessness remains a significant issue both globally and in Europe, despite the existence of relevant international treaties to prevent and reduce this phenomenon and to protect stateless persons. The right to a nationality is reflected in numerous widely ratified international treaties and is considered a gateway to the enjoyment of a range of other rights. It also constitutes part of a person's social identity.
Yet, according to the latest UNHCR estimates, there are some 535,000 stateless persons, including those with undetermined nationality living in Europe. The lack of nationality has a serious impact on their lives, their enjoyment of the full range of human rights, including access to education, employment, healthcare, housing, and freedom of movement. The Covid-19 pandemic has certainly aggravated their already marginalized situation.
The causes of statelessness are manifold, including complexities of conflicts in nationality laws, state succession, forced displacement, historical and contemporary migration, structural birth registration problems, gaps in nationality and administrative practices. The prevention and reduction of statelessness and the identification and protection of stateless persons are among the priority areas of the Council of Europe’s Action Plan on Protecting Vulnerable Persons in the Context of Migration and Asylum in Europe (2021-2025).
INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE AND TECHNICAL MEETING OF EXPERTS (Strasbourg 23-24 September 2021)
The CDCJ are organising jointly with the UNHCR, a technical meeting of experts and an international conference (23-24 September 2021) to raise awareness and promote the accession of all its 47 member States to International and European conventions relating to nationality and statelessness, and their successful implementation.
CDCJ AD-HOC MEETING ON STATELESSNESS (Strasbourg, 11-12 June 2019)
Bearing in mind the Council of Europe Action Plan on protecting refugee and migrant children for 2017-2019, an ad hoc meeting was held in June 2019 to review the protocols and procedures used by member States. The outcome of their work was taken into account in an detailed analysis of current practices and challenges regarding the avoidance and reduction of statelessness in Europe. (see more)
UNHCR and Council of Europe discuss statelessness, urge States to uphold the right to a nationality in Europe
Strengthening efforts to end statelessness in Europe and guarantee the provision of fundamental rights to everyone was the key theme of the events organised on 23-24 September in Strasbourg by the Council of Europe’s European Committee on Legal Co-operation (CDCJ) and UNHCR, the UN Refugee...
Statelessness and the right to a nationality in Europe
An international conference jointly organised by the Council of Europe, through the European Committee on Legal Co-operation, and the United Nations Refugee Agency (UNHCR) will examine how member states in Europe can best address the problem of statelessness and foster opportunities to rally...
CDCJ 94th Plenary meeting
Current practices and challenges regarding the avoidance and reduction of statelessness in Europe
At its 94th plenary meeting in Strasbourg (13-15 November 2019), CDCJ discussed the current practices and challenges regarding the avoidance and reduction of statelessness in Europe in the company of Professor Doctor Gerard-René de Groot (Maastricht University -The Netherlands , and University of...