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TAJIK AUTHORITIES DELIBERATE OVER ACCESSION TO THE STATELESSNESS CONVENTIONS

TAJIK AUTHORITIES DELIBERATE OVER

ACCESSION TO THE STATELESSNESS CONVENTIONS

Dushanbe, Tajikistan, 09 August 2016.

A Roundtable on accession of Tajikistan to the 1954 and 1961 Statelessness Conventions brought together some 20 government officials from relevant line ministries and agencies at the level of heads of departments, and leading experts to discuss the financial and legal feasibility of Tajikistan’s accession to the said Conventions.  The Roundtable organised by UNHCR, aimed at facilitating discussions amongst Tajik authorities on the pros and cons of acceding to the Statelessness Conventions and addressing their concerns over possible financial, legislative and administrative implications of accession, while contemplating practical steps for the preparatory works.

The guest speakers, Ms. Olga Poalelungi, Director of the Bureau for Migration and Asylum at the Ministry of Internal Affairs of the Republic of Moldova, and Ms. Ia Biganishvili, Project Manager/Lawyer of the Public Services Development Agency under the Ministry of Justice of Georgia were invited to share their experience and the challenges their countries encountered before and after accession to the Statelessness Conventions. Tajik authorities demonstrated a keen interest in the models presented by the two countries, who acceded to both the Statelessness Conventions.    

The Child Ombudsman of Tajikistan, Ms. Rajabmo Badridinova, in her role as the moderator at the event, stated that:

“Before accession to Statelessness Conventions, Tajikistan has to convene serious preparatory works, including a broad analysis of domestic legislation, to assess if they are already in line with international standards. In addition, statelessness determination procedure has to be developed and a responsible state body has to be authorised to work with the stateless population. The social integration of stateless persons is another important aspect for serious consideration”.

In Tajikistan, the full extent of statelessness is not yet known. In 2014 the Government and UNHCR launched a national pilot project to better understand the extent of statelessness in Tajikistan. Between late 2014 and 30 June 2016, 21, 623 persons, including former USSR citizens and other persons with undetermined nationality were identified and registered in three target regions. Tajikistan is not yet a State party to the 1954 Convention relating to the Status of Stateless Persons or to the 1961 Convention on the Reduction of Statelessness, however is a party to major international human rights instruments, which respects the right to nationality.   

According to Mr. Vito Trani, UNHCR Representative in Tajikistan:

“Accession by Tajikistan to the Statelessness Conventions can facilitate solutions to the existing statelessness cases and will prevent the emergence of statelessness situations in the future. Resolving statelessness promotes the rule of law, improves social and economic development and contributes to the better regulation of international migration. UNHCR stands ready to support the Government of Tajikistan in its efforts to address statelessness in the country”.

The 1954 Convention Relating to the Status of Stateless Persons and the 1961 Convention on the Reduction of Statelessness provide the international legal foundations for addressing the causes and consequences of statelessness, which are not addressed in any other treaty. These Conventions set the international standards for preventing statelessness at birth and later in life and protecting the rights of stateless persons. UNHCR has been given the responsibilities by the General Assembly of the United Nations to promote accession to the Statelessness Conventions and to provide for their full implementation.