Conventions on statelessness

Click a button below to access the named convention. The files are publicly available and can be downloaded.

The 1954 UN Convention relating to the Status of Stateless Persons

The 1961 UN Convention on the Reduction of Statelessness

European Convention on Nationality, Council of Europe, ETS 166

Council of Europe Convention on the Avoidance of Statelessness in relation to State Succession, ETS 200

States Party to the Statelessness Conventions (as of December 2019)

The 1954 UN Convention relating to the Status of Stateless Persons

The 1961 UN Convention on the Reduction of Statelessness

European Convention on Nationality, Council of Europe, ETS 166

Council of Europe Convention on the Avoidance of Statelessness in relation to State Succession, ETS 200

States Party to the Statelessness Conventions (as of December 2019)

Other important international agreements contain relevant passages on nationality rights. These include:

The Universal Declaration of Human Rights
(Article 15)

Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination (Article 5)

Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women (Article 9)

Convention on the Rights of the Child (Articles 7 & 8)

The Universal Declaration of Human Rights (Article 15)

Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination (Article 5)

Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women (Article 9)

Convention on the Rights of the Child (Articles 7 & 8)

In order to make progress in addressing statelessness through conventional means, it is important for states to sign and ratify the relevant conventions. Each state has a responsibility to enforce those conventions within its respective jurisdiction. The cooperation of the international community and its member states is essential to preventing and addressing statelessness.

At the same time, it is important to highlight that the above international conventions lack monitoring and enforcement mechanisms (a common problem for international law). Some states are not yet signatories to the relevant conventions, while others have not ratified them. States also typically maintain reservations in regards to the conventions, diminishing their effectiveness and purpose. International attention in addressing statelessness remains insufficient. 

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