http://www.unhcr.

org/news/latest/2011/9/4e7c8cd755/statelessness-unhcr-hails-new-support-urges-
action-treaties.html

Statelessness: UNHCR hails new

support, urges more action on
treaties
Croatia, Nigeria and the Philippines have become the latest countries to become party to one or both of
the statelessness conventions.

GENEVA, September 23 (UNHCR) - Three additional countries have formally adopted international
legal standards to keep stateless people from falling into legal limbo - a sign that the campaign against
statelessness is gaining momentum but still needs considerable international support.
This week, Croatia, Nigeria and the Philippines deposited their instruments of accession/ratification at
an annual treaty event on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly in New York. The treaties
concerned are the 1954 Convention relating to the Status of Stateless Persons, which defines who is
considered stateless and establishes minimum standards of treatment, as well as the 1961 Convention
on the Reduction of Statelessness, which provides principles and a legal framework to prevent
statelessness.
Up to 12 million people are believed to be stateless worldwide. They have no nationality, usually lack
valid identity documents, and are often denied even the most basic rights, including access to health
care, education, housing and jobs.
Today, the bulk of new stateless cases involve children born to stateless parents. This can be prevented
if more countries accede to the 1961 Convention and offer citizenship to stateless children at birth.
On Thursday, High Commissioner Antnio Guterres welcomed Croatia as the 40th state to become
party to the 1961 Convention. Guterres congratulated Croatian President Ivo Josipovi after he
submitted documents to the UN and confirmed his governments commitment to prevent future cases
of statelessness. Croatia has an estimated 1,700 citizens of the former Yugoslavia who are either
stateless or at risk of becoming stateless. UNHCR is working to provide them with legal aid to resolve
the issue.
Depositing Nigerias instruments on Tuesday, President Goodluck Jonathan was quoted in Nigerian
media as saying that accession was a demonstration of the countrys resolve to ensure that everyone
has an effective right to nationality. Given Nigerias diplomatic weight, UNHCR expects the
countrys accession to boost efforts to promote accession and address statelessness in Africa.
With this weeks developments, the Philippines has become the first country in Southeast Asia to
become party to the 1954 Convention. We are pleased to welcome the Philippines as the first country
in the region that has committed to protecting the rights of stateless people, said Bernard Kerblat,
UNHCRs representative in the Philippines. We now have a country in Southeast Asia which tells the
world: We care for the stateless.
The Philippines has a long tradition of giving sanctuary to stateless people and there are legal
mechanisms to regularise their status. Later this year, UNHCR and the authorities will join forces in an
exercise to determine how many stateless people there are, and where they live in the country. The
refugee agency is also supporting the government to amend its nationality legislation to prepare for
accession to the 1961 Convention.
The Philippines actually was one of the first 23 countries to sign the 1954 Convention before it closed
for signature on 31 Dec 1955, and has now ratified it to put it into effect. Other signatory states that
have yet to ratify the 1954 Convention include Colombia, El Salvador and Honduras. Signatory states
that have not acceded to the 1961 Convention are the Dominican Republic, France and Israel. UNHCR
is working with a number of these States to ensure that their signature of these conventions decades ago
is followed by ratification.
In total, the numbers of states that are party to the 1954 and 1961 Conventions now stand at 68 and 40
respectively. These figures are disappointingly low given that the UN has 193 member states.
International support is growing but it still lacks the critical mass to make a substantial difference in the
global campaign against statelessness.
UNHCR is calling on governments to seriously consider acceding to both treaties. The agency is also
urging those states that are considering accession to start procedures at the national level.
More countries are expected to follow the example set by Croatia, Nigeria, the Philippines and Panama
- which acceded in June - and become party to one or both of the statelessness conventions. To mark
the 50th anniversary of the 1961 Convention, UNHCR will hold a treaty ceremony during the
ministerial-level meeting in Geneva in early December. There are already indications from a number of
states that they will accede or pledge to do so at this event.

http://www.philstar.com/breaking-news/731483/stateless-people-welcome-philippines

MANILA, Philippines The United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) has lauded the Philippines for
adopting the international legal standard in welcoming war-displaced and stateless people to its territories.
The Philippines has become the first country in Southeast Asia to become party to the 1954 Convention on the Status of
Stateless Persons, which defines who is considered stateless and establishes minimum standards of treatment.
We are pleased to welcome the Philippines as the first country in the region that has committed to protecting the rights of
stateless people, said Bernard Kerblat, UNHCR representative in the Philippines.
We now have a country in Southeast Asia which tells the world: 'We care for the stateless', he pointed out.

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The UNHCR noted that the Philippines has a long tradition of giving sanctuary to
stateless people and there are legal mechanisms to regularize their status in the
area.
Later this year, UNHCR said it will join forces to determine how many stateless
people are living in the Philippines and where they are living in the country. The
refugee agency is also supporting the government's move to amend its nationality
legislation to prepare for accession to the 1961 Convention.
Along with Croatia and Nigeria, the Philippines deposited their instruments of
ratification at an annual treaty event on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly
in New York this week.
The treaties concerned are the 1954 Convention relating to the Status of Stateless
Persons, which defines who is considered stateless and establishes minimum
standards of treatment; and the 1961 Convention on the Reduction of
Statelessness, which provides principles and a legal framework to prevent
statelessness.
The Philippines actually was one of the first 23 countries to sign the 1954
Convention before it closed for signature on 31 Dec 1955, and has now ratified it
to put it into effect.
In total, the numbers of states that are party to the 1954 and 1961 Conventions
now stand at 68 and 40, respectively. The figures are disappointingly low given
that the UN has 193 member states.
Up to 12 million people are believed to be stateless worldwide. They have no
nationality, usually lack valid identity documents, and are often denied even the
most basic rights, including access to health care, education, housing and jobs.

http://www.rappler.com/newsbreak/iq/96929-timeline-philippine-law-policies-refugees
- timeline on how Philippines treats stateless persons