Africa: UNHCR Calls for Renewed Action to End Statelessness As #IBelong Campaign Ends

Charity Nzoma/UNHCR
When she entered classes at the University of Nairobi as a first-year economics student in 2020, Nosizi Dube already achieved something unprecedented in Kenya: she was the first Shona woman to reach this level of higher education. Since she was born at home into a Shona family, Nosizi didn’t receive an official birth certificate. This hindered her in many ways as she grew up, and she struggled for placement in classrooms after primary school. She and her mother had to work hard – using a variety of other documents – to keep her education going. “It’s like you are a ghost in the country that you are living in. You don’t exist,” she explained. “My mother is truly my greatest inspiration because she is not easily defeated.” However, Nosizi faced a major roadblock to finishing high school: she needed a birth certificate to register for exams. Fortunately, in 2019 – with support from UNHCR and the Kenya Human Rights Commission – the Government of Kenya issued birth certificates to Shona children for the first time. Furthermore, Nosizi was granted Kenyan nationality in 2020, alongside members of her community. Nosizi was headed to university – a reality that seemed out of reach not long ago.
4 November 2024
United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees

Dakar, 4 November 2024 - Marking ten years since the launch of the #IBelong Campaign, UNHCR, the UN Refugee Agency, underscores the urgency of eliminating statelessness in West and Central Africa, as millions remain without legal identity or access to fundamental rights.

Despite efforts that have paved pathways to nationality and reformed discriminatory laws, statelessness remains a stark reality for 931,191 people in West Africa alone. Millions more, especially in conflict-affected countries like Mali, Burkina Faso, and Niger, are at heightened risk due to complex legal, social, and historical barriers. Statelessness continues to exclude individuals from participating fully in society, creating lasting challenges in access to education, healthcare, employment, and protection.

The #IBelong Campaign, alongside national governments, regional bodies, and civil society has driven crucial advancements to end statelessness. Through targeted advocacy, policy reform, and cooperation, the campaign has bolstered the legal recognition of stateless persons, expanded access to birth registration, and supported legal frameworks that empower people to claim a nationality.

In Côte d'Ivoire, Nigeria, Benin, and Senegal, newly established statelessness determination procedures have granted thousands legal protections and facilitated their access to essential rights. The removal of gender discrimination from nationality laws in Liberia, Sierra Leone, and Benin, allowing women to pass on their nationality to their children, represents a powerful step toward equality and justice for future generations.

However, the road ahead remains challenging. Twelve countries have established national action plans to address statelessness, yet barriers persist in implementing these policies at the local level. While regional frameworks, such as the Model Law on Statelessness developed by ECOWAS and ECCAS, offer a blueprint for action, commitment to tangible change remains critical. Abdouraouf Gnon-Konde, Director of UNHCR's Regional Bureau for West and Central Africa, emphasized, "The #IBelong Campaign has shown that progress is possible. Now, we must double down on our efforts, recognizing that every individual left stateless represents a failure to fulfill basic human rights."

In October 2024, UN High Commissioner for Refugees Filippo Grandi announced the launch of the Global Alliance to End Statelessness, a new initiative to galvanize global efforts and sustain the momentum of #IBelong. This Alliance, guided by a 15-member Advisory Committee comprising states, UN agencies, civil society, and stateless-led organizations, will drive collaborative action to overcome legal and systemic gaps that allow statelessness to persist. As the Secretariat host, UNHCR will support Alliance activities, advocating for reforms and mobilizing resources to address this solvable crisis.

While acknowledging the dedication of West and Central African nations to addressing statelessness, UNHCR calls on governments, regional organizations, and international allies to increase efforts and resources to ensure every individual's right to nationality. Statelessness remains a solvable issue. With unwavering commitment, inclusive legal reforms, and expanded access to civil documentation, we can--and must--achieve a world without statelessness.

Read the original article on UNHCR.

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