A World Without Borders? The Plight of Stateless People

Millions globally lack citizenship, depriving them of basic rights. The United Nations' #IBelong campaign, ending this October, aimed to eradicate statelessness. Despite some progress, millions remain stateless in Myanmar, Bangladesh, and Ivory Coast, among others. A major meeting in Geneva seeks to reignite efforts to address this humanitarian crisis.

Millions worldwide remain unrecognized as citizens, often denied fundamental rights such as education, healthcare, and employment. This month marks the conclusion of the United Nations' #IBelong campaign, a decade-long initiative to eliminate statelessness by 2024.

Myanmar has seen one of the largest stateless populations, with the Rohingya people facing harsh discrimination under a 1982 law. Many have fled to Bangladesh and other countries, often ending up in dire situations. Ivory Coast, Thailand, and the Baltic states also struggle with significant stateless populations, each with unique historical and legal challenges.

As the UN hosts a crucial meeting in Geneva to discuss progress and future plans, the international community is urged to intensify efforts to resolve this crisis. Countries like Kyrgyzstan have set precedents by granting citizenship universally, sparking hope for similar actions elsewhere.

(With inputs from agencies.)