Good practices on protecting the rights of stateless persons

What: Legal advocacy and strategic litigation supported a court case that resulted in Czech courts recognizing members of the Latvian “non-citizen” minority as stateless persons.

Impact: The ruling created a viable pathway to residence and naturalisation for one of the largest stateless groups in Europe.

Actors: Apatride Network, Organization for Aid to Refugees (OPU)

Court decisions (in Czech):
https://vyhledavac.nssoud.cz/DokumentOriginal/Html/737619
https://vyhledavac.nssoud.cz/DokumentOriginal/Html/724044

What: An annual forum bringing together people affected by statelessness, experts, and decision-makers to exchange knowledge and strengthen advocacy.

Impact: Raises awareness of statelessness and centers lived experience in discussions shaping research, policy, and advocacy across Europe.

Actors: Apatride Network

More information: https://statelessnessandcitizenshipreview.com/index.php/journal/article/view/673

What: Costa Rica introduced a fully accessible statelessness determination procedure allowing online applications and interviews, supported by psychosocial professionals and complemented by mobile outreach teams in remote and border areas.

Impact: The decision timeframe was reduced from 12 to 6 months; since 1995, 434 people have been recognized as stateless and 179 have subsequently acquired Costa Rican nationality.

Actors: Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Worship of Costa Rica (MREC)

Resources: https://www.rree.go.cr/?sec=servicios&cat=apatrida

What: The European Network on Statelessness developed the Statelessness Index, an online tool that compares law, policy, and practice across European countries against international standards on protecting stateless people and preventing statelessness.

Impact: Covering 34 countries, the Index provides reliable comparative data that supports advocacy, legal reform, research, and capacity-building across Europe.

Actors: European Network on Statelessness (ENS), with national experts and UNHCR support

What: Forum réfugiés, in collaboration with the European Network on Statelessness, developed a guidance for civil servants and NGOs, and public events to strengthen the identification and protection of stateless persons in France.

Impact: The initiatives have increased awareness of statelessness, informed advocacy and legal debates, and strengthened collaboration with French authorities.

Actors: Forum réfugiés, European Network on Statelessness (ENS)

What: Yayasan Cita Wadah Swadaya (YCWS) supports refugee-led organizations to provide informal education and skills training for stateless refugees and pilots innovative livelihood initiatives such as animation training linked to remote employment.

Impact: Access to informal education expanded from 38 learners in 2022 to 136 by mid-2025, while refugee trainees gained digital skills and paid remote work despite national employment restrictions.

Actors: Yayasan Cita Wadah Swadaya (YCWS)

What: Italy recognizes stateless status through administrative or judicial procedures and grants residence permits to recognized stateless persons, enabling access to rights under the 1954 Convention. All children, including undocumented and stateless pupils, are guaranteed access to compulsory education.

Impact: Stateless persons with recognized status can access work, healthcare, and education, while undocumented children can enroll in school and complete compulsory education alongside Italian peers.

Actors: Ministry of the Interior – Department of Civil Liberties and Immigration (Central Directorate of Civil Rights, Citizenship and Minorities)

What: Moldova introduced a legislative and procedural change allowing applicants for stateless status to work legally while their applications are being examined, supported by an official certificate confirming their right to employment.

Impact: In the first year, more than 130 applicants received work authorization, helping reduce vulnerability, support economic independence, and facilitate social integration.

Actors: General Inspectorate for Migration, Ministry of Internal Affairs of the Republic of Moldova

What: The Baze University Migration and Trafficked Persons Law Clinic raises awareness on statelessness, supports communities at risk, trains young lawyers as advocates, and operates help desks in IDP camps to assist stateless persons with access to justice and civil documentation.

Impact: The initiative has strengthened awareness of statelessness among students and communities, expanded legal support mechanisms for people at risk, and built a network of future human rights advocates working to prevent and address statelessness.

Actors: Baze University Migration and Trafficked Persons Law Clinic, in collaboration with UNHCR

What: The “My Mother My Nationality” campaign raises awareness about the impact of gender-discriminatory nationality laws on children of Bahraini mothers, including those who are stateless, through discussions, storytelling, and advocacy for legal reform.

Impact: The initiative has amplified the voices of affected families, increased public and policy awareness, and strengthened advocacy efforts to reform nationality laws and prevent childhood statelessness.

Actors: Salam for Democracy and Human Rights (SALAM DHR)

What: The NGO Right to Protection supported strategic litigation before the Supreme Court challenging outdated regulations that prevented recognized stateless persons from obtaining temporary residence permits.

Impact: Following the 2024 Supreme Court ruling, the government amended procedures in 2025, ensuring that recognized stateless persons can obtain residence permits and access legal documentation and protection.

Actors: Charitable Foundation “Right to Protection” (R2P)

What: The NGO The Tenth of April advocated with migration authorities to ensure that children born in Ukraine to parents recognized as stateless can apply directly for Ukrainian nationality, without requiring a separate statelessness determination procedure.

Impact: The clarified procedure reduced bureaucratic barriers and helped prevent childhood statelessness; by mid-2025, six children supported by the initiative had already acquired Ukrainian nationality.

Actors: NGO The Tenth of April