Statelessness

Statelessness is the condition of an individual who is not recognised as a national or citizen by any country under its laws. Stateless persons lack access to many basic rights and services that are tied to nationality, including travel documents, healthcare, and education. The 1954 Convention Relating to the Status of Stateless Persons and the 1961 Convention on the Reduction of Statelessness are the primary international instruments addressing this issue. Causes of statelessness include gaps in nationality laws, discrimination, and the dissolution of states.