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UNHCR Announces Campaign to End Statelessness in Tajikistan

The United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) has launched a global “I Belong” campaign aimed at ending within 10 years the problem of statelessness – a devastating legal limbo for the millions of people worldwide who lack any nationality and the human rights protections that go with it.

Statelessness is sometimes referred to as an invisible problem because the voices of those lacking citizenship in any country are often not heard, but the challenges they face are serious – ranging from the risk of deportation, harassment, lack of access to social services like education and health care, and the inability to work or start a business.

“Statelessness makes people feel like their very existence is a crime,” said Antonio Guterres,“ the UN High Commissioner for Refugees. “We have a historic opportunity to end “…” statelessness within 10 years, and give back hope to millions of people. We cannot afford to fail this challenge.”

The UNHCR Representative in Tajikistan, Kevin J. Allen, has indicated that “The extent of statelessness in Tajikistan is currently unknown, but we are working closely with the Government of Tajikistan to better understand the issue and identify concrete steps to collectively address it.”

Recently, UNHCR and civil society partners launched, in close coordination with the Government, a pilot project to further assess the situation of statelessness in the Republic of Tajikistan. This works builds upon UNHCR collaboration with the Government to promote favourable reforms to the Constitutional Law on Citizenship, which are currently pending submission to Parliament.

The main causes of statelessness in Tajikistan appear to be the dissolution of the former Soviet Union, cross-border movements, and mixed marriages and births. In many instances, persons at risk of statelessness simply lack documentation and require confirmation of their nationality.

Through a series of resolutions dating back to 1974, the UN General Assembly has given UNHCR the mandate to prevent and reduce statelessness. UNHCR’s campaign is being launched amid signs of a shift in international attitudes surrounding statelessness. Just three years ago, there were barely 100 State parties 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, bringing critical mass within reach.

Working together with the Government of Tajikistan and partners — including sister UN agencies, NGOs and local civil society actors — UNHCR is hopeful that statelessness can be resolved in the Republic of Tajikistan. 2015 promises to be a pivotal year in the country, with a number of important initiatives planned to assist stateless persons and those at risk of becoming statelessness.