What is the main problem the project is seeking to address? Nationality laws in twenty-four countries deny women’s right to confer nationality on their children on an equal basis as men, with the highest concentration of these laws found in the Middle East, especially the Gulf region. Over 40 countries4 have at least one gender-discriminatory nationality laws provision, including denying women’s equal rights to confer nationality on a non-national spouse. Gender discrimination in nationality laws (GDNL) is leading cause of statelessness, causes other wide-ranging human rights violations, and inhibits the Sustainable Development Goals. Concerted advocacy at the global and regional levels is required to complement national-level efforts and highlight the negative impacts of GDNL and what is required to change them in international/targeted-regional spaces in order to galvanize action by policymakers. The Global Refugee Forum Progress Review 2025 is an important space to increase attention and action to advance equal nationality laws. Without the participation of GCENR representatives – including the co-chair of the TWG on Discrimination – this issue risks being overlooked in a context with limited such opportunities at the global level. Similarly, there is a need for increased capacity building and engagement of policymakers and stakeholders in the Gulf region in order to capitalize on recent developments. Finally, GCENR as co-chair of the GAtES TWG on Discrimination, requires resources to enable the TWG’s plans to facilitate increased collaboration and capacity building of GAtES members (including interpretation costs), especially impacted persons, as well as awareness raising material.

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What is the main change the project seeks to achieve? GRF Progress Review 2025 Side Events: GCENR will work in partnership with other civil society networks to elevate attention and commitments to combat statelessness and advance equal nationality rights through: a joint public event on the sidelines of the Progress Review 2025; a roundtable with a targeted Member States; bilateral meetings with Member State (potential) champions, and participation in official sessions. Gulf Multistakeholder Convening (Bahrain): The Convening, focused on advancing women’s right to confer nationality on their children, would increase policymakers’ understanding of the benefits of gender equal nationality laws; share lessons learned from reforms in the region; and enhance connections between and mobilize collaborative action by key stakeholders, with participants including impacted persons, representatives from parliament, relevant government ministries and institutions, civil society, UN and intergovernmental organizations from the Gulf region. Building on the proven impact of the 2024 Global Multistakeholder Summit and previous regional convenings, it would provide a strategic opportunity to mobilize action to advance the Arab Declaration on Belonging and Legal Identity, and would be held at an opportune moment, following a May 2025 announcement by Chairman the Parliament of Bahrain’s Foreign Affairs, Defense and National Security Committee that nationality law reforms pertaining to women’s ability to confer nationality to their children would be given “serious consideration” prior to the next parliamentary session. TWG on Discrimination Communications: Funds would also support the development of TWG outreach and communications material, as well as needed interpretation for key activities including: capacity building meetings with impacted persons; testimonials of impacted persons; country spotlights on good practices and key developments.

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Who are the key partners? GRF Progress Review 2025 Side Events: Regional statelessness civil society networks (Statelessness and Dignified Citizenship Coalition-Asia Pacific, SANN, GMAS, Hawiati, Red ANA, EANN, SANN), UNHCR (and/or UN Women/UNICEF), and a speaker from a Gov member of GAtES will be engaged as a speaker Gulf Multistakeholder Convening (Bahrain): Bahrain Women’s Union, other civil society representatives from the Gulf, UNHCR, UN Women, UNICEF, and a representative of the League of Arab States, a GAtES member TWG on Discrimination Communications: TWG members, UN Women, GCENR coalition members

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Who is the target population for this project? PrimaryGRF Progress Review 2025 Side Events: Member States & Regional Intergovernmental Organizations, both GAtES members and non-members, UN agencies, civil society Gulf Multistakeholder Convening (Bahrain): impacted persons, representatives from parliament, relevant government ministries and institutions, civil society, UN and intergovernmental organizations from the Gulf region TWG on Discrimination Communications: Outreach/communications materials - public and policymakers in impacted countries; Capacity building work – TWG members and impacted persons in their networks

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OtherGRF Progress Review 2025 Side Events: UN agencies, broader human rights/humanitarian civil society Gulf Multistakeholder Convening (Bahrain): UN agencies (acapacity building and mobilization of participating UN agencies’ staff in the Gulf) TWG on Discrimination Communications: UN agencies, broader human rights/humanitarian civil society

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Funding and costs What is the total cost of this project?30,000 USD

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How much funding is needed?30,000 USD

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