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.
26 October 2026
Two Years On: Looking Ahead with Determination, Unity, and Purpose
As we mark the second anniversary of the Global Alliance to End Statelessness, we celebrate this milestone by reflecting on our progress and looking ahead with renewed determination. When the Alliance was launched, United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres captured the profound human stakes of our mission with a powerful core vision: “No matter who or where they are, every person belongs.” For millions of people, statelessness remains a barrier to rights, services and dignity. Ending it requires collective action across governments, international organizations, civil society, affected communities and other partners.
Read more22 October 2026
Standing To End Statelessness: A Conversation with ICDH in Haiti on the Frontlines of Human Rights
As the Global Alliance to End Statelessness marks its second anniversary and reaches a powerful network of 200 members strong, we are reminded that tangible progress on addressing and preventing statelessness is possible through our collective action, in particular supporting the most vulnerable and at risk of being left behind. To explore our shared vision and what it truly means to fight for the “right to have rights,” we sat down in a short conversation with Mr. Urbens Wilbert DIEUVEUIL, Director of Initiative Citoyenne pour les Droits de l’Homme, ICDH that proudly stepped forward as the 200th member of the Global Alliance.
Read more21 October 2026
African Human Rights Day: Call for Action on the Right to a Nationality and the Eradication of Statelessness in Africa
On African Human Rights Day, as we mark 40 years since the entry into force of the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights, we are calling for renewed action to protect the right to a nationality and end statelessness across Africa.
A joint statement led by the Pan African Nationality Network (PANN), the South African Nationality Network (SANN), the Global Alliance to End Statelessness, Lawyers for Human Rights and other partner organizations highlights that nationality is fundamental to human dignity, equality, belonging and full participation in society.