Moving Statelessness Forward on the International Agenda

Abstract

This paper aims at shedding more light on the recent re-emergence of the issue of statelessness on the international agenda, from a government perspective. I wish to outline what a government can do in order to address statelessness through foreign policy initiatives and to highlight the issue of protecting stateless persons in different international fora. Hungary is a good example for that, being party to all international conventions on the protection of the stateless and on the reduction and prevention of statelessness. This shows to the outside world Hungary’s strong commitment to protecting stateless people and preventing future cases of it as well as reducing their existing number. In 2007, Hungary also established a self-standing statelessness determination procedure. Since then, the government has put more emphasis on the promotion of the protection of stateless people and the reduction of statelessness in her international relations. This article gives some examples on implementing this policy goal and mainstreaming statelessness in international cooperation.