The United Nations disclosed on Saturday that approximately 4.4 million individuals across the globe are formally recognized as stateless, though this number is presumed to be significantly greater owing to the inherent “invisibility” of many stateless individuals.
The United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) underscored the severe ramifications of statelessness, emphasizing the urgent need for more substantial efforts to alleviate this state of exclusion.
Stateless persons, devoid of nationality from any nation, frequently encounter the loss of fundamental human rights and access to essential services. Consequently, they often find themselves situated on the fringes of political and economic systems, thereby exposing them to discrimination, exploitation, and abuse, as noted by the UNHCR.
The UNHCR’s statement delineated that “at least 4.4 million individuals across 95 countries are officially documented as stateless or possess an undetermined nationality.”
Furthermore, the UNHCR identified noteworthy progress made by Kenya, Kyrgyzstan, Moldova, North Macedonia, Portugal, and Tanzania in addressing statelessness in the year 2023. Additionally, the Republic of Congo joined the roster of countries adhering to Statelessness Conventions.
By AFP
