Participation of the PABSEC International Secretariat to the IPU virtual event “Parliamentary action to end statelessness by 2024”, 25 February 2021
Mr. Miltiadis Makrygiannis, PABSEC Deputy Secretary General, attended the virtual event entitled “Parliamentary action to end statelessness by 2024”, hosted by the IPU, the UN Refugee Agency (UNHCR) and the Professionals in Humanitarian Assistance and Protection (PHAP), on 25 February 2021.
The event brought together parliamentarians who shared good practices and discussed strategies and practical ways of mobilizing parliamentary action to end statelessness by 2024. Speakers included experts, academicians and members of parliaments who have led legislative efforts to address statelessness in their countries. Introductory remarks made by Mr. Martin Chungong, Secretary General of the IPU and Ms. Gillian Triggs, UNHCR Assistant High Commissioner for Protection.
All speakers pointed that statelessness, the situation of people who have no nationality, has devastating impacts on millions of people around the world. Statelessness deprives people of the right to simply enjoy rights every other citizen enjoys – the right to an identity, to move, own property, access to education, health and employment. In 2014, UNHCR launched an ambitious Campaign to End Statelessness by 2024, known as the IBelong Campaign. As statelessness can be prevented and resolved by law, parliamentarians have a critical role to play in bringing the scourge of statelessness to an end.
Webinar’s aim was to enhance awareness of statelessness issues among parliamentarians and showcase good practices to inspire further leadership by members of parliament in eliminating statelessness and protecting stateless persons, including during the COVID-19 pandemic. Challenges and opportunities for parliamentary engagement were identified and particular attention was placed on how to move beyond pledges made at the Report of the UN named Global Compact on Refugees (GRF), with concrete implementation and results.