Government to address statelessness in ‘coming weeks’

The government yesterday evening said that it would address the long-standing issue of statelessness within the “coming weeks”.

The Ministry for Home Affairs and National Security said in a statement yesterday evening that, “After so many years in which no action was taken, at present this government is considering the adoption of further measures, in addition to those already provided for by the national legislative framework, intended to address situations of statelessness.

“In particular, the government is actively considering the possibility to accede to the 1954 Statelessness Convention. A decision is expected to be taken in the coming weeks.

“The Maltese authorities will therefore be taking further steps in this field, which will contribute, on a local level, to the UNHCR’s global effort against statelessness.”

The UNHCR, which adopts a central and active role in the global effort against statelessness, called for action to address situations of statelessness in Malta in a letter by the organisation’s Representative in Malta to Members of Parliament. In particular, the UNHCR encouraged Malta to become party to the 1954 and 1961 Statelessness Conventions, so as to prevent and reduce situations of statelessness.

On Monday, UNHCR Office in Malta delivered an information package on Statelessness to the Speaker of the House Anglu Farrugia as part of the global campaign to eradicate Statelessness, iBelong.

The same information package will be delivered to all Member of Parliament whilst urging the Maltese Government to sign the two Statelessness Conventions, namely the 1954 Convention relating to the Status of Stateless Persons and the 1961 Convention on the Reduction of Statelessness’.

In the European Union, only four countries are not yet party to any of the Statelessness conventions: Cyprus, Estonia, Poland and Malta. UNHCR en- courages Malta to become party to these conventions in order to protect stateless persons, and prevent and reduce statelessness.

Across the world today, more than ten million people are told they do not belong anywhere. They are called ‘stateless’.

They are denied a nationality. And with it, they are denied their basic rights. Statelessness can mean a life without education, without medical care, or legal employment. It can mean a life without the ability to move freely, without prospects, or hope.

“We are glad that we were welcomed today by the Speaker of the House, Dr Angelo Farrugia, to officially present this information package,” said Kahin Ismail, UNHCR Malta’s recently appointed Representative.

“Statelessness is a pressing theme for some people who might be currently without basic rights because they are not recognized as nationals by any State. We urge the Maltese Government to take the opportunity of the EU Presidency to accede to the Statelessness Conventions.”

UNHCR has been in close dialogue with the Maltese authorities for the past few years to map the issue of statelessness in the Maltese context. In 2014, research on the topic was conducted (report included in this package) and not surprisingly, it confirmed that stateless persons are also found in Malta, albeit not in large numbers.

Every State and continent are affected by statelessness and although the problem is not at its most acute in Europe, an estimated minimum number of 400,000 stateless persons are found within the borders of the European Union.

Mr Ismail hadadded in the letter, “Most stateless persons live in the country where they were born, where they have lived for years, for decades or even their entire lives.

“As many stateless persons live under the radar, they cannot enjoy their basic rights, they face the risk of detention and destitution and they pass on their statelessness to their children. Acquiring a nationality would end their predicament and would recognize their bond with the country they call home.”

UNHCR launched the #IBelong Campaign in November 2014.