statelesshenkilö

A stateless person is an individual who is not considered a national by any state under the operation of its law. This means they lack citizenship in any country. Statelessness can arise from various circumstances, including the arbitrary drawing of borders, the dissolution of states, discrimination against minority groups, and gaps in nationality laws.

Children are particularly vulnerable to statelessness. If born in a country that does not grant them automatic citizenship (jus soli) and whose parents' nationality laws do not transmit citizenship to children born abroad (jus sanguinis), they can be left without any nationality. This lack of legal status can have profound consequences, affecting their ability to access education, healthcare, employment, and freedom of movement. Stateless individuals may also face challenges in obtaining identity documents, which can hinder their participation in society and leave them susceptible to exploitation.

International law, particularly the 1954 Convention relating to the Status of Stateless Persons, aims to protect stateless individuals and prevent statelessness. However, many countries are not parties to this convention, and even for those that are, the implementation of protections can be inconsistent. Efforts to identify and protect stateless populations are ongoing, with organizations like the UNHCR working to resolve existing cases and prevent new instances of statelessness.