The Right to a Nationality (2-37)

What are the consequences of the denial of a nationality ? 2/2

What is one up against as a child not in possession of a nationality ?

This question is integrally related to the episode and report related to the Right to a Name which will be necessary to consult in order to get the most complete grasp of this problematic. (Click on the words to access this information).

As we have seen, everything starts with the registration of one's birth, and the rights inherent to the legal existence thereby procured. In their everyday life, stateless children may be denied access to schools, medical care, education and later, when adults, even the right to work since the country in which they live does not recognize them as one of their citizens.

Children may also be deprived of a nationality if their parents are nationals of different countries and the respective legal systems thereof are not harmonised.

In certain countries, it is actually the case that stateless persons are not allowed to possess personal property or even to get married !

In light of unacceptable scenarios such as those described in the examples, one can certainly better grasp the crucial importance of possessing a nationality in our modern day world of the twenty first century !

How can we improve matters ?

As always and first of all, by concretely and globally applying the International Convention on the Rights of the Child, in particular articles 7 & 8. The countries in which the above situations have been observed are in fact signatories to this treaty and as such are legally bound to have rectified these situations a long time ago .

The UN agency responsible for stateless persons is the High Commissioner for Refugees which actively works on this issue in partnership with other organisations such as the High Commissioner for Human Rights and UNICEF.

There are several conventions specific to the situation of stateless persons that have been signed in the past, for example the Convention relating to the Status of Stateless Persons (1954) and the Convention on the Reduction of Statelessness (1961).

Thankfully, it was possible to regularize the situation of millions of people in the past, but let us not forget that past success has no bearing on the future and does not prevent millions of human beings from being without a nationality in the world today !

To see the cartoon on the Right to a Nationality, click here

For the game, click here

To see the cartoon on the Right to a Name, click here

For the game, click here

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