Global Alliance Co-Sponsors side event at the ECOSOC Youth Forum and the launch of Youth Statement for Gender Equality in Nationality Laws

On 16 April, the Global Alliance to End Statelessness co-sponsored a powerful side event at the ECOSOC Youth Forum, alongside Alliance members UNHCR, UNICEF, UN Women, and the Global Campaign for Equal Nationality Rights. Titled “Mobilizing for Gender-Equal Nationality Laws: For Inclusive, Sustainable Development & Youth Empowerment,” the event marked the official launch of the Youth Statement for Gender Equality in Nationality Laws, now open for signatures.

The event spotlighted the urgent need to reform gender-discriminatory nationality laws, which still exist in over 40 countries. In 24 of these, women are denied the right to pass their nationality to their children on an equal basis with men – often leading to statelessness and a cascade of other rights violations, including lack of access to education, healthcare, employment, and freedom of movement.

From the outset, panelists emphasized the essential role of youth in demanding legal reform and driving social change. UN Women representative opened by affirming that the right to acquire, retain, and transfer nationality is fundamental to women’s legal personhood and full citizenship. When denied, entire families may be pushed into statelessness and systemic exclusion.

The voices of youth advocates took center stage. Neha Gurung, a formerly stateless youth activist, shared her journey from exclusion to empowerment, describing how discriminatory laws shaped her childhood and inspired her current legal studies and advocacy. Rabih Samra, an activist from Lebanon, traced the country’s gender-discriminatory nationality law back to colonial-era policies, highlighting how they continue to block access to rights and opportunities for stateless youth, particularly during crises such as the COVID-19 pandemic.

UNHCR’s New York Office Director reaffirmed that addressing statelessness is central to the agency’s mandate. He noted recent progress in countries like Madagascar, Sierra Leone, Liberia, and Malaysia, but cautioned that harmful stereotypes and misinformation continue to stall reforms elsewhere. “Nationality is not a drain on public resources – it is a gateway to participation, contribution, and dignity,” he said, stressing the need for sustained advocacy and a multi-stakeholder approach.

The Global Alliance was highlighted as a growing platform for collaboration and collective action. Its members – including youth-led organizations, civil society, and UN partners – are working together through dedicated working groups to dismantle gender-based legal barriers and champion solutions.

The newly launched Youth Statement for Gender Equality in Nationality Laws calls for urgent action to uphold equal nationality rights for all. The Global Alliance encourages everyone – especially young people – to sign and share the statement, amplify the call for reform, and lead the movement for a future free from statelessness and discrimination.

📢 Sign the Youth Statement today and be part of the change.