Every child’s right to a nationality and identity: Preventing childhood statelessness
2 March 2026 10:15-11:45 CEST
Statelessness remains a significant challenge affecting millions worldwide. At the end of 2024, at least 4.4 million stateless persons and persons of undetermined nationality were reported across 101 countries – with children representing 44% of those affected.
Discrimination, gaps in nationality laws, lack of safeguards for children who would otherwise be stateless, and inadequate birth registration systems remain key drivers of childhood statelessness. The 1961 UN Convention on the Reduction of Statelessness provides key safeguards to prevent children from being born stateless. Broader accession to the Convention and its full and effective implementation are urgently needed.
This Human Rights Council (HRC) side event will focus on one of the most effective strategies to end statelessness: ensuring that no child is born without a nationality. The discussion will highlight the Convention’s 65th anniversary, core safeguards and examine how these provisions can be effectively implemented in law and practice. Bringing together governments, regional bodies, UN agencies, and civil society – including voices with lived experience – the event will showcase concrete good practices, and promote multistakeholder action. Held ahead of the HRC’s Annual Discussion on the Rights of the Child, it will reaffirm that every child’s right to a nationality and identity is fundamental – and achievable through stronger safeguards and sustained commitment.
Speaker List:
Moderation: Professor Philip Jaffé, Vice Chair, United Nations Committee on the Rights of the Child
Panel:
Ms. Elizabeth Tan, Director, Division of International Protection and Solutions, UNHCR
Hon. Sabrina Gahar, Chairperson, African Committee of Experts on Rights and Welfare of the Child
Ms. Neha Gurung, Co-founder, Citizenship Affected People’s Network (CAPN)
Government of Finland (TBC)
Government representative from Latin America (TBC)
Participation
Where? CENTRE D’ACCUEIL DE LA GENÈVE INTERNATIONALE, La Pastorale Route de Ferney 106, 1202 Genève
When? 2 March 2026, 10.15 – 11.45 am CET
For in-person participation, please register here: [email protected]
For online participation, please register here: https://l1nq.com/WAtr8
Past webinars/meetings
1st Global Alliance Townhall Meeting (Session 1)
24 February 2025
The 1st Global Alliance Townhall Meeting was held online on 24 and 25 February 2025.
This Townhall introduced the Thematic Working Groups (TWGs) and their co-chairs, providing an opportunity to discuss initial plans and upcoming inaugural meetings.
Members wishing to join one or several TWGs can enroll through an online form at the bottom of each TWG subpages.
1st Global Alliance Townhall Meeting (Session 2)
25 February 2025
The 1st Global Alliance Townhall Meeting was held online on 24 and 25 February 2025.
This Townhall introduced the Thematic Working Groups (TWGs) and their co-chairs, providing an opportunity to discuss initial plans and upcoming inaugural meetings.
Inaugural meeting of the “Protecting the Rights of Stateless Persons” Thematic Working Group
26 March 2025
The inaugural meeting of the “Protecting the Rights of Stateless Persons” Thematic Working Group (TWG) was held on Wednesday, 26 March, from 10:00 to 11:30 CET.
This open-house session introduced the theme and work modalities of the TWG.
Inaugural meeting of the “Addressing Discrimination in Nationality Laws & Policies” Thematic Working Group
2 April 2025
The inaugural meeting of the “Addressing Discrimination in Nationality Laws & Policies” Thematic Working Group (TWG) was held on Wednesday, 2 April, from 14:00 to 15:30 CET.
This open house session introduced the theme and work modalities of the TWG.
The inaugural meeting of the “Ending Childhood Statelessness” Thematic Working Group (TWG) was held on Thursday, 3 April, at 14:00-15:30 CET.
This open house session introduced the theme and work modalities of the TWG.
2025 ECOSOC Youth Forum Side Event: “Mobilizing for Gender-Equal Nationality Laws”
16 April 2025 19:15-20:45 CEST
Inter-Regional Network Lab: Leveraging Regional Approaches and the Role of Inter-governmental Organizations in addressing statelessness
20 May 2025 15:00-18:00 CEST
The first Global Alliance Inter-Regional Network Lab, “Regional Action, Global Impact: Leveraging Regional Approaches and the Role of Inter-Governmental Organizations in Addressing Statelessness,” was held online on 20 May 2025. Co-organized by UNHCR, the Organization of American States (OAS), the Council of Europe (CoE), and CLARCIEV, the half-day event provided a platform for exchange, peer learning, and cross-regional collaboration, spotlighting the critical role of IGOs in fostering inclusive, coordinated, and regionally grounded action to address statelessness.
Knowledge Webinar Series – Webinar 1: Resolving statelessness together
10 September 2025 10:00-11:30 CEST
The Global Alliance to End Statelessness launches its Knowledge Webinar Series with Resolving Statelessness Together, showcasing government action, civil society leadership, and community solutions from Thailand, Kenya, and beyond.
2nd Global Alliance Townhall Meeting
23 September 2025 14:00-15:30 CEST
The 2nd Global Alliance Townhall Meeting was held on 23 September 2025. This online event, held via Teams, offered a key opportunity for Global Alliance members to engage, learn about the Online Marketplace, present significant developments, and receive updates on the Thematic Working Groups and the Inter-regional Network Lab for regional intergovernmental organizations.
Third quarterly meeting of the “Protecting the Rights of Stateless Persons” Thematic Working Group (TWG)
2 October 2025 10:00-11:30 CEST
Knowledge Webinar 2: Solutions to End Childhood Statelessness
13 November 2025 13:30-15:00 CEST
The Global Alliance Thematic Working Group on Ending Childhood Statelessness is pleased to invite you to its inaugural global webinar which will showcase both high level and on the ground practices. Governments have a legal and moral duty to ensure children acquire a nationality at birth or as early as possible in life according to the Convention on the Rights of the Child (CRC) and other international standards.
Knowledge Webinar 3: Fundraising for Impact: Mobilizing Resources to End Statelessness
20 November 2025 14:00-15:30 CEST
The third session, Fundraising for Impact: Mobilizing Resources to End Statelessness, took place on 20 November 2025, 14:00-15:30 CET. It aimed to strengthen fundraising capacities and share practical experiences from funders and organizations that have successfully mobilized resources for statelessness work. This interactive session explored how to connect advocacy goals with donor priorities, translate pledges into action, and access new and innovative funding opportunities.
Knowledge Webinar 4: Addressing Gender Discrimination in Nationality Laws and Policies
2 December 2025 14:00-15:30 CEST
The fourth session, Addressing Discriminatory Nationality Laws and Policies, organized by the respective Global Alliance Thematic Working Group, took place on 2 December 2025, 14:00–15:30 CET. It explored how gender‑discriminatory nationality laws, policies, or practices cause and perpetuate statelessness, and what could be done to combat them.
Knowledge Webinar 5 – Unlocking Futures: Realizing the Right to Education for Stateless Persons
18 December 2025 10:00-11:30 CEST
The fifth session, Unlocking Futures: Realizing the Right to Education for Stateless Persons, organized by the respective Global Alliance Thematic Working Group, took place on 18 December 2025, 10h00 – 11h30 CET. It served to commemorate Human Rights Day on 10 December, underscoring the right to education as a core human right that must be guaranteed for all, including stateless persons. The webinar brought together States, civil society, stateless-led organizations and partners to showcase good practices and spark collaborative efforts to ensure that no stateless person is left behind.