Prevention of Childhood Statelessness: Publication Launch

Statelessness remains a pressing human rights issue, particularly for children who, without a nationality, are often denied access to basic rights such as education, healthcare, and legal protection.

The objective of the event is to launch a new joint publication, Opening Doors for Children: Prevention of Childhood Statelessness. Good Practices in the OSCE Area, developed by the OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR), the OSCE High Commissioner on National Minorities (HCNM) and the UN Refugee Agency (UNHCR).

The event will discuss effective legal and policy measures that prevent childhood statelessness across the OSCE region and highlight good practices across the OSCE region. This publication underscores the urgent need for the 57 participating States to uphold every child’s right to a nationality, as enshrined in international legal instruments, including the Convention on the Rights of the Child and the 1961 Convention on the Reduction of Statelessness.

Opening remarks will be delivered by Ambassador Vesa Häkkinen, Finland's Permanent Representative to the OSCE and Chair of the Permanent Council.

About the report

The report presents a comprehensive overview of the legal safeguards that can ensure no child is born stateless. It highlights how inclusive nationality laws, universal birth registration, and coordinated administrative practices can serve as powerful tools in this effort. Through a series of case studies, the publication showcases good practices from countries across the OSCE area, where proactive legal frameworks and accessible civil registration systems have significantly reduced the risk of statelessness among children.

In addition to legal reforms, the publication emphasizes the importance of removing practical barriers to birth registration, particularly for children born to marginalized or undocumented parents. It advocates for inter-agency co-operation, public awareness campaigns, and the use of digital technologies to streamline registration processes and reach underserved communities.

Ultimately, the publication calls on OSCE participating States to take concrete steps to close the legal and administrative gaps that leave children stateless. By adopting and implementing the recommended practices, States can fulfil their international obligations but also ensure that every child has the opportunity to grow up with the dignity, identity, and protection that a nationality provides.

Participation in the launch is by invitation only.

Queries

If you have any questions, please contact Beata Bislim Olahova Beata.BislimOlahova@odihr.pl and Lola Girard lola.girard@odihr.pl