Preventing childhood statelessness in Europe and Central Asia: Regional expert roundtable

Children born to stateless parents, parents of unknown nationality or parents who cannot transmit their nationality continue to face a heightened risk of statelessness across Europe and Central Asia. Ensuring that every child acquires a nationality at birth or as soon as possible thereafter requires effective legal safeguards and accessible administrative procedures.

This regional expert roundtable will bring together government experts, policymakers, legal practitioners, international and regional organizations, and civil society representatives, including stateless-led organizations. Participants will exchange national experiences and identify practical measures to prevent childhood statelessness and strengthen regional co-operation.

Discussions will focus on two areas: safeguards to ensure access to nationality for children who would otherwise be stateless, and access to birth registration. Experts will examine gaps in law, policy and practice, barriers affecting children born to stateless or undocumented parents, and ways to improve co-operation among the authorities responsible.

Through expert presentations and group discussions, participants will identify effective approaches and develop practical recommendations for governments. A summary document will capture the discussions, examples of good practice and priority areas for further action.

The roundtable is organized under the umbrella of the Global Alliance to End Statelessness. Discussions will draw on recent OSCE–UNHCR and Council of Europe guidance on preventing childhood statelessness and ensuring access to nationality.

The meeting will take place in person and will be conducted in English. Participants are selected on the basis of relevant technical expertise and balanced regional representation.

For questions, please contact ODIHR Assistant Project Manager, Ignacio Garcia Martinez at Ignacio.GarciaMartinez@odihr.pl.