Statelessness: A Global Challenge

Abstract

The protection of stateless persons has long been understood as a challenge for international community. However, for many of past years, a prioritized focus on refugees has dominated, or even eclipsed the plight and protection needs of the stateless persons. It has been long argued for a refocus of international attention and efforts on plight, predicament and protection needs of stateless persons. In over years ago, it was observed that statelessness was perceived by many as mere technical problem, yet stateless indeed a broad human right issue, even as it retains a distinct technical dimension. In the light of developments, this article examines the challenges for international community, to provide greater recognition of and protection of stateless persons. It celebrated the positive developments and identifies the areas of ongoing challenges. The article focuses on key initiatives identified as requiring attention, the progress made in relation to each and predominantly on the relevance of developments in the human right law.