The United Nations has reported that over 500,000 people without a nationality have acquired citizenship in the past decade, thanks to efforts from its refugee agency.
This success comes after the UN launched its #IBelong campaign in 2014 to end statelessness globally.
UN High Commissioner for Refugees, Filippo Grandi, called statelessness “a major human rights violation,” stating that it leaves people vulnerable and unable to access critical services. “Significant progress has been made,” Grandi said, “but our work is not yet done.”
The report highlights that 565,900 stateless people or those with undetermined nationality have now gained citizenship. The campaign, which ends this year, also led to 13 countries passing laws to ensure no child is born stateless. Countries like Kyrgyzstan and Rwanda were recognized for their efforts in reducing statelessness.
Cate Blanchett, a goodwill ambassador for the UNHCR, called the progress “remarkable.” She emphasized, “We must make sure that anyone still living without nationality is given the right to be recognized and included.”
While the #IBelong campaign is concluding, the UNHCR will continue the fight against statelessness with a new initiative called the “Global Alliance to End Statelessness.” Grandi stressed that further action is necessary, as millions of people worldwide remain stateless due to ethnic, religious, or legal reasons.
The UNHCR will host a high-level meeting in Geneva to continue addressing the issue.
