Uniting for Change: Global Alliance Gains Momentum at the 2024 World Conference on Statelessness
The second World Conference on Statelessness (WCS24), was organized in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, over 26-29 February 2024, by the Institute on Statelessness and Inclusion (ISI), Nationality for All (NFA), and Development of Human Resources for Rural Areas (DHRRA) Malaysia, with the Human Rights Commission of Malaysia (SUHAKAM) as a strategic partner. The World Conference was centered around the themes of Knowledge, Solidarity and Change, and was attended by some 450 participants from 50 countries, and around 100 more participated in some of the conference sessions online.
The conference successfully convened a broad coalition of stakeholders from various regions, promoting knowledge sharing, solidarity, and collaborative action. These efforts culminated in the launch of the Global Movement Against Statelessness, which unites individuals, activists, and allies in a dedicated campaign to eliminate statelessness and champion equal nationality and human rights worldwide.
On 28 February 2024, the Solidarity theme day of the conference, UNHCR organized the panel ‘Uniting for Change: Accelerating Solutions through the New Multistakeholder Global Alliance to End Statelessness’ to inform of the benefits of multilateral engagement to address statelessness and build the Global Alliance membership among civil society and other stakeholders.
The event was co-moderated by Ms. Christiana Bukalo, the Founder of Statefree stateless-led organization, and Mr. Marin Roman, a UNHCR Senior Statelessness Officer, and included a keynote address by Ms. Monika Sandvik, the UNHCR Senior Statelessness Coordinator, followed by a panel discussion, featuring Ms. Rosalie M. Robles-Cumla, State Counsel at the Department of Justice of the Republic of the Philippines; Mr. Chris Nash, Director and Co-Founder of the European Network on Statelessness; Mr. Yasah Musa, Project Manager at the Nubian Rights Forum; Ms. Radha Govil, Deputy Director of the Peter McMullin Centre on Statelessness; and Ms. Kirsten Di Martino, UNICEF Senior Child Protection Adviser. The panel attracted a full house of 60 attendees and online viewers via live stream. Additionally, the UNHCR and Global Alliance’s information booth was a hub of activity, drawing high interest from the conference participants.
A Global Alliance Taskforce subgroup meeting was also convened on February 26 before the Conference opening ceremony, focusing on the external engagement strategy for the Global Alliance.
8 May 2025
Global Alliance Co-Sponsors side event at the ECOSOC Youth Forum and the launch of Youth Statement for Gender Equality in Nationality Laws
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.
Read more17 March 2025
Townhall Meeting on introducing the Global Alliance Thematic Working Groups
The Global Alliance held its first Townhall meeting online on February 24-25, 2025, focused on introducing the Alliance’s inaugural thematic working groups (TWGs) and their co-chairs.
The thematic working groups are a key workstream of the Global Alliance, established as expert forums to advance the Alliance vision and mission, in particular thematic areas which warrant intensified attention, advocacy and action. They are designed to identity and address key gaps, foster learning and promote innovative solutions.
Read more12 February 2025
Inaugural Advisory Committee Meeting
The final week of January marked a significant milestone for the Global Alliance to End Statelessness, as it convened its first Advisory Committee meeting, bringing together a distinguished group of Member States, civil society and stateless-led organizations, regional bodies, and UN agencies.
Held on 28–29 January in Bogis-Bossey, Switzerland, the inaugural meeting focused on operationalizing the Alliance and advancing key workstreams. Discussions highlighted the need to strengthen member engagement, enhance communication efforts, and ensure the meaningful participation of stateless persons and stateless-led organizations.
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