Protecting the Rights ofStateless Persons
The 1954 Convention relating to the Status of Stateless Persons

A PERSONAL APPEALFROM THE UNITED
NATIONS HIGHCOMMISSIONERFOR REFUGEESStateless children are often unable
to obtain primary education. For several
decades, the State of Sabah in Malaysia
has been host to refugees from thePhilippines and migrants from Indonesia
and the Philippines. The children ofthese groups often end up stateless.
While children who possess the rightdocuments are able to attend school,
those who don’t, like the two boyson the right, are left out of mostpublic programmes.

I would like more information about:

UNHCR and its work on statelessness
Visit UNHCR’s statelessness website atwww.unhcr.org/statelessness. You can also
consult relevant Conclusions on International
Protection of UNHCR’s Executive Committee,
in particular Conclusion 106 on Identification,
Prevention and Reduction of Statelessness andProtection of Stateless Persons (2006).

International law relating to theprotection of stateless persons,
including the 1954 Convention
relating to the Status of Stateless
Persons

G. CONSTANTINE

Today, millions of people around theworld face serious difficulties owing tostatelessness. The Convention relating to
the Status of Stateless Persons provides
a framework for States to assist statelesspeople – allowing them to live in security
and dignity until their situation can be
resolved. Presently, very few States are
parties to this instrument. We need tochange that. I call on States to accede
to the Convention and pledge the full
support of my Office to governments to
help implement its provisions.

Cover :

António Guterres
Published by:
UNHCR
P.O. Box 2500
1211 Geneva 2
Switzerland
UNHCR, January 2014

For a more detailed discussion of the 1954
Convention as well as other international
norms relating to the protection of statelesspersons, see Nationality and Statelessness: A
Handbook for Parliamentarians (UNHCR
and Inter-Parliamentary Union, 2005, revised
second edition forthcoming in 2014). For adetailed commentary on the 1954 Convention,
see Convention relating to the Status ofStateless Persons – Its History and Interpretation(Robinson, 1955), and UNHCR Guidelines onStatelessness on the definition of “Stateless
Person” in Article 1(1) of the 1954 Convention
relating to the Status of Stateless Persons;
Procedures for Determining whether an
Individual is a Stateless Person; and the Statusof Stateless Persons at the National Level. To
access these and other relevant international
documents on statelessness, visit UNHCR’s
Refworld website at http://www.refworld.org/
statelessness.html

PROMOTING RECOGNITION,
ENHANCING PROTECTION

N

ationality is a legal bond between a person and a State. Nationality provides
people with a sense of identity but, more importantly, enables them toexercise a wide range of rights. The lack of any nationality, statelessness, cantherefore be harmful, in some cases devastating to the lives of the individuals
concerned.
Despite international recognition of the right to a nationality, new cases ofstatelessness have continued to arise. Tackling statelessness still poses a major
challenge in the 21st century. There are at least 10 million stateless people
around the world today.
While some stateless persons are refugees at the same time, most are not.
Stateless persons who are also refugees are entitled to the international protection afforded by the 1951 Convention relating to the Status of Refugees (“1951Convention”). To address the protection problems faced by stateless persons, inparticular those who are not refugees, the international community adopted the1954 Convention relating to the Status of Stateless Persons (“1954 Convention”).
This treaty aims to regulate the status of stateless persons and to ensure thewidest possible enjoyment of their human rights. The Convention complements
provisions of international human rights treaties.
A growing number of States are turning to the 1954 Convention as a framework for the protection of stateless persons. This reflects understanding thatthe 1954 Convention relating to the Status of Stateless Persons is the only legal
instrument that formally establishes the international legal status of “statelesspersons”. The Convention also addresses many practical concerns relating to theprotection of stateless persons – such as access to travel documents – that are
not dealt with elsewhere in international law. While the 1954 Convention had
only 65 States Parties on 1 January 2011, more States have been acknowledging
that it is a central component of the international regime for enhancing theprotection of the rights of stateless persons. Twenty-three States pledged to
accede to the Convention at the Ministerial Event organized by the UNHCR
in December 2011. By the end of January 2014, 80 States were parties.

ProtectingtheRightsofStateless Persons

1

W H Y D O STAT E L E SS P E R SO N S
NEED PROTECTION?

The Universal Declaration of Human Rights affirms that “everyone has
the right to a nationality”, thereby acknowledging the legal and practicalimportance of nationality for the enjoyment of human rights. Governments must
therefore work to make certain that everyone holds a nationality. Despite this andother provisions of international human rights law, many people never acquireor are deprived of their nationality. When some people remain excluded, theirstatelessness leaves them vulnerable. Because they lack the bond of nationality
with any State, stateless persons need special attention and protection to ensurethat they are able to exercise their rights.

Stateless people are often without a legal
status and feel left out of society. The Galjeel,
are a sub-clan of Somali descent and have lived
in Kenya since the late 1930s. For decades, theGaljeel held Kenyan ID cards, participated in local
and national elections, owned businesses andenjoyed full access to State services. But in 1989
the government introduced a screening system toidentify irregular migrants from Somalia. During
this process, the authorities confiscated mostforms of identification that linked the Galjeel to
Kenya. Many became stateless, losing the rights
they had enjoyed for decades. Here, a Galjeel boy
plays in an abandoned school. Most children in
the community do not go to school.

2

ProtectingtheRightsofStateless Persons

UNHCR /G. CONSTANTINE

For instance, a particular concern for stateless persons is the difficulty that they
face in obtaining identity and travel documents, which not only impedes theirability to travel, but can also cause many problems in day-to-day life and may
in some cases lead to the prolonged detention of the individual. Statelessness
prevents people from fulfilling their potential and may have severe knock-on
effects for societal cohesion and stability. It may even cause communal tensions
and displacement. Promoting recognition and enhancing protection of statelesspersons are means to respond to such concerns.

IS THE 1954 CONVENTION STILLR E L E VA N T I N TO DAY ’S W O R L D ?

Yes, absolutely. Statelessness is still a widespread problem today. With thegrowing awareness of the global impact of statelessness on individuals andsocieties, both governments and the international community are increasingly
turning to the UN Statelessness Conventions for guidance. The 1954 Convention
remains the primary international instrument that regulates the status of nonrefugee stateless persons and ensures that stateless persons enjoy human rights
without discrimination. It provides stateless individuals with an internationallyrecognized legal status, offers them access to travel documents, identity papers
and other basic forms of documentation, and sets out a common frameworkwith minimum standards of treatment for stateless persons. Accession to the1954 Convention therefore allows States to demonstrate their commitment tohuman rights, gives individuals access to protection and mobilizes international
support for the State to adequately deal with the protection of stateless persons.

ProtectingtheRightsofStateless Persons

3

P ROT E C T I N G STAT E L E SS P E R SO N S
WITH THE 1954 CONVENTION
WHO DOES THE 1954 CONVENTION PROTECT?-The 1954 Convention recognises the international legal status of “statelesspersons”. Article 1 establishes the definition of a stateless person in international law: someone “who is not considered as a national by any State under
the operation of its law”. This definition is now also recognised to be customary international law. Establishing whether or not a person is considered as anational under the operation of a country’s law, requires a careful analysis of
how the State applies its nationality laws in practice. Persons who satisfy thedefinition are entitled to certain rights and must comply with certain duties
contained in the 1954 Convention. The Convention does not cover so-calledde facto stateless persons for whom no universally accepted definition exists
in international law. However, de facto stateless persons are entitled to protection under international human rights law. Stateless refugees are covered by
the 1951 Convention relating to the Status of Refugees and should be treatedin accordance with international refugee law.
STATELESS PERSONS’ RIGHTS UNDER THE 1954 CONVENTION-

The 1954 Convention is based on a core principle: no stateless person shouldbe treated worse than any foreigner who possesses a nationality. In addition, the Convention acknowledges that stateless persons are more vulnerable
than other foreigners. It therefore provides for a series of special measures forstateless persons.
The 1954 Convention guarantees stateless persons a right to administrative assistance (Article 25), a right to identity and travel documents (Articles 27 and28) and exempts them from reciprocity requirements (Article 7). These tailormade provisions are designed to deal with the particular difficulties faced bystateless persons due to their lack of any nationality, for instance by providing
for a mutually-recognised travel document for stateless persons to function inlieu of a passport. These matters are not regulated elsewhere in internationallaw and are among the core legal benefits for stateless persons under the 1954
Convention.
4

ProtectingtheRightsofStateless Persons

Considering the plight of stateless people, the Convention stipulates that theymust be treated like nationals of the State with regard to certain rights suchas freedom of religion or elementary education. It must be stressed that theConvention pursues a nuanced approach, specifying that some guarantees apply
to all stateless people while others are reserved to stateless persons lawfully
present or lawfully staying in the territory. The 1954 Convention thus echoes
human rights standards contained in other international instruments andprovides guidance on how such standards are to be implemented for statelesspersons. As set out in Article 2 of the 1954 Convention, all stateless persons
have the duty to obey the laws and regulations of the country in which theyfind themselves.
It is important to note that the enjoyment of the rights guaranteed under the1954 Convention does not equate to possession of a nationality. This is why
the 1954 Convention calls upon States to facilitate the naturalization (Article32) of stateless persons. Once they acquire a nationality, stateless persons are
no longer stateless: their plight has come to an end.
DOES THE 1954 CONVENTION REQUIRE STATES TO GRANT STATELESS PERSONSA NATIONALITY?-The 1954 Convention does not establish a right for stateless persons to acquire
the nationality of a specific State. However, because stateless persons haveno State to protect them, the Convention requires States Parties to facilitate
the integration and naturalization of stateless persons as far as possible, forexample by expediting and reducing the costs of naturalization proceedings
for stateless persons. At a more general level, human rights law recognises theright to a nationality – set out, for example, in the Universal Declaration of
Human Rights. States therefore must strive to avoid statelessness. Moreover,the 1961 Convention on the Reduction of Statelessness provides common, global
safeguards against statelessness thereby helping States to ensure the right toa nationality.
WHO DETERMINES WHETHER A PERSON IS STATELESS?HOW IS THIS DONE?-In order to ensure that the rights foreseen in the Convention are extended tostateless persons, States need to be able to identify stateless individuals throughProtectingtheRightsofStateless Persons

5suitable procedures. The 1954 Convention does not prescribe a particular procedure for the determination of whether a person is a stateless person. However,national status determination procedures should offer certain core elements,
which are necessary for fair and efficient decision-making in keeping with international protection standards. These include designating a central authority
with the relevant knowledge and expertise to assess applications, procedural
safeguards and guarantees at all stages of the process and possibility for appeal
or review. UNHCR has been tasked to assist States to establish such procedures.
CAN AN INDIVIDUAL BE EXCLUDED FROM THE PROVISIONS OF THE 1954CONVENTION?-The 1954 Convention specifies in Article 1 that there are certain circumstancesin which the stateless cannot benefit from the status of stateless persons
and the protection of the Convention. This is referred to as “exclusion” and applies to individuals who are not in need or are not deserving of international
protection, for example because there are serious reasons for considering thatthey have committed a crime against peace, a war crime, or a crime against
humanity. A specific provision applies to a special category of stateless persons,
who like other stateless persons are in need of international protection, but forwhom separate arrangements have been made to receive protection or assistance.
IS THE 1954 CONVENTION THE ONLY INSTRUMENT RELEVANTTO THE RIGHTS OF STATELESS PERSONS?

o. Although the 1954 Convention is the only instrument to create a specific status for stateless persons, there is a
substantial body of international human rights
Despite the efforts of governments,
law that is also relevant to the rights to be
the international community andenjoyed by stateless persons. States are alreadycivil society, statelessness continues
to occur. It is therefore essentialcommitted to protecting the rights of statelessthat the human rights of statelesspersons through their human rights obligations.
persons are protected. A bride and
The standards laid down in the 1954 Convention
her friends travel to the bridegroom’s
house in Nepal. Even after a majorcomplement and strengthen States’ human rights
government-run citizenship campaign,commitments relating to stateless persons. For
thousands of people in Nepal remainstateless or face multiple obstacles toexample, the 1954 Convention establishes a speacquiring proof of citizenship. Manycial regime to provide internationally recognised
are Dalits, such as these women.
travel documents to stateless persons.
6

ProtectingtheRightsofStateless Persons

G. CONSTANTINENH OW U N H C R A SS I STS STAT E S TO
P ROT E C T STAT E L E SS P E R SO N S

The UN General Assembly selected UNHCR for the task of assisting States
to protect stateless persons and to resolve statelessness situations not only
because refugee and statelessness problems sometimes overlap, but also because
protection of stateless persons requires, in many ways, an approach similar to
dealing with refugees. Both populations lack international protection.
UNHCR assists States to implement the 1954 Convention by offering technicaladvice regarding legislation and operational support to promote the implementationof determination procedures and measures to ensure the rights foreseen in theConvention. UNHCR’s Executive Committee has specifically requested the Office
to “actively disseminate information and, where appropriate, train government
counterparts on appropriate mechanisms for identifying, recording, and granting astatus to stateless persons” (see UNHCR’s Executive Committee Conclusion 106 on
Identification, Prevention and Reduction of Statelessness and Protection of Stateless
Persons, 2006, for more information).

ProtectingtheRightsofStateless Persons

7

T H E I M P O RTA N C E O F ACC E SS I O N
TO THE 1954 CONVENTION

A

cceding to the 1954 Convention relating to the Status of Stateless
Persons:8•

Is a way for States to demonstrate their commitment to treat statelesspersons in accordance with internationally recognised human rights andhumanitarian standards•

Ensures that stateless persons have access to the protection of a State sothat they are able to live with security and dignity•

Provides a framework to identify stateless persons within their territory andensure enjoyment of their rights, including through issuance of identity
documentation and travel documents•

Promotes recognition of the international legal status of “stateless person”
and the common international framework for protection, thereby increasing
legal transparency and predictability in States’ response to statelessness•

Enhances security and stability by avoiding exclusion and marginalisationof stateless persons•

Prevents displacement by promoting the protection of stateless persons in
the country in which they find themselves•

Helps UNHCR to mobilise international support for the protection of stateless persons

ProtectingtheRightsofStateless Persons

THE LINK WITH THE 1961
CONVENTION ON THE REDUCTION OF
STAT E L E SS N E SSNo matter how extensive the rights granted to a stateless person may be,they are not equivalent to possessing a nationality. All human beings havethe right to a nationality and whenever the anomaly of statelessness arises, thefocus should be on preventing and reducing it.
Protection of stateless persons under the 1954 Convention relating to the Statusof Stateless Persons should thus be seen as temporary response while avenues
for the acquisition of a nationality are explored. The reduction of statelessness
through acquisition of nationality remains the ultimate goal. The 1961 Convention on the Reduction of Statelessness provides States with tools for avoiding
and resolving cases of statelessness.
However, States Parties to the 1961 Convention should still consider acceding
to the 1954 Convention to ensure that protective measures are in place when
they nevertheless encounter cases of statelessness. Acceding to both the 1954
and 1961 Statelessness Conventions is a key step to equip States to tackle thefull range of statelessness problems. More detailed information about the 1961
Convention can be found in Preventing and Reducing Statelessness - The 1961
Convention on the Reduction of Statelessness (UNHCR, 2014).

ProtectingtheRightsofStateless Persons

9Without valid identity
documents stateless persons areoften unable to exercise theirbasic human rights. This is thecase for untold thousands offormer Soviet citizens who did
not meet the legal requirements
to obtain the nationality of a
successor State. Many, like thewoman in the picture, ended
up with only an expired USSR
passport.
10

ProtectingtheRightsofStateless Persons

UNHCR /G. CONSTANTINE

ProtectingtheRightsofStateless Persons

11

&
QUESTIONSANSWERS12

F R E Q U E N T LY A S K E D Q U E S T I O N SABOUT ACCESSION
Here are answers to some of the most frequently asked questions about accession to the1954 Convention relating to the Status of Stateless Persons. Further questions and details are
discussed in Nationality and Statelessness: A Handbook for Parliamentarians (UNHCR and InterParliamentary Union, 2005, revised second edition forthcoming in 2014).
n Does the 1954 Convention

n What is the differencecompel a State to grant statelesspersons entry and/or residence?

between a stateless person anda refugee?

No. The 1954 Convention does not oblige

Stateless persons and refugees are bothStates to admit stateless persons to theirin need of international protection. They

territory. However, in practice, there mayfind themselves in a precarious situation

be no possibility of return to the country of

because the link with the State has been

former habitual residence of the individual

broken. Both, therefore, enjoy a special yet

concerned or there may be no such country.

separately defined status under international

In such cases, admission to the State andlaw. A key element of the definition of asome type of legal stay may be the only

refugee is that he or she has a well-founded

solution. In addition, other international

fear of persecution. Being stateless does notstandards may provide a ground for thenecessarily signify persecution. As well, toadmittance or non-expulsion of statelessbe a refugee, a stateless person must also

persons. In particular, States are bound by

be outside of his or her country of habitualthe prohibition of refoulement as a principle

residence. Yet most stateless persons haveof international law and may not return anever left the country where they were born.

stateless person to a territory where he

However, statelessness is often a root causeor she would be at risk of persecution orof forced displacement. When statelessbreaches of other fundamental international

persons are also refugees they are covered byhuman rights standards, including torture andthe 1951 Convention relating to the Status ofarbitrary deprivation of life.

Refugees and international refugee law.

ProtectingtheRightsofStateless Persons

G. CONSTANTINE?

On the coast of Bangladesh, a group of refugees from northern Rakhine State in Myanmar pushtheir fishing boats out to sea. Most stateless persons are not refugees but those who are must betreated in accordance with international refugee law.

n Are States obliged to treat

who are lawfully in the territory or lawfullystateless persons equal to theirown nationals?

staying. In a limited number of cases – suchas with respect to the freedom of religion
and access to courts – States must accord

No. With respect to most of the rights

to stateless persons the same treatment asenumerated in the 1954 Convention relating

enjoyed by nationals. International humanto the Status of Stateless Persons, statelessrights law complements the provisions of

persons should enjoy at least the samethe 1954 Convention and in many instances

rights guaranteed to other non-nationals.

human rights treaties provide for higher

Moreover, the Convention extends a number

standards of treatment for stateless persons.

of rights only to those stateless persons

ProtectingtheRightsofStateless Persons

13

n Can a State adopt reservations

is a stateless person. States define theto the provisions of the 1954
Convention?

institutions and/or authorities involved,
the stages of the process, as well as theprocedural safeguards and guarantees which

Yes. Reservations are permitted at theneed to be in place to ensure compliancetime of ratification or accession, except

with international standards of due

to Article 1 (the definition of a statelessprocess. UNHCR has published guidelines

person and the exclusion clauses), Article 3

on procedures for determining when an(non-discrimination), Article 4 (freedom ofindividual is a stateless person. UNHCR’s

religion), Article 16(1) (access to courts), andExecutive Committee has indicated that the

Articles 33 to 42 (final clauses).

Office should provide technical advice toStates Parties on the implementation of the1954 Convention so as to ensure consistentn What practical considerations

implementation of its provisions. The 1954

are involved in acceding to the1954 Convention?

Convention also requires that States Parties
provide information on the domestic laws
and regulations through which the terms of
the Convention are implemented (Article 33).

As States have already undertaken
obligations under international humanrights instruments which apply to statelesspersons, they will find it easier to implementn How does a State accede to

many of the rights contained in the 1954

the 1954 Convention?

Convention. However, in order to ensurethat stateless persons enjoy the rights

States may accede to the 1954 Convention

laid down in the 1954 Convention, States

relating to the Status of Stateless Persons

need to establish some form of status

at any time by depositing an instrument ofdetermination procedure in order to identify

accession with the Secretary-General of thestateless persons who may benefit from

United Nations. The instrument of accession

the Convention. The 1954 Convention does

must be signed by the Foreign Minister or

not prescribe a particular procedure for

the Head of State or Government. Further

the determination of whether a person

details on accession procedures and model
instruments of accession can be found atwww.unhcr.org/statelessness.

14

ProtectingtheRightsofStateless Persons

I N T E R N AT I O N A L C A L L S F O R ACC E S S I O N
UN General Assembly: Welcomes pledges by States to accede to the statelessness conventions, the 1954 Convention relating to the Status of Stateless Persons and the 1961
Convention on the Reduction of Statelessness, as well as pledges to remove reservations to them, also welcomes the recent increase in the number of accessions to the
two Conventions [...]• General Assembly Resolution 67/149, Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for
Refugees, 20 December 2012
UN Human Rights Council: Acknowledges that 2011 will mark the fiftieth anniversaryof the Convention on the Reduction of Statelessness, and encourages States that havenot acceded to the Convention and to the Convention relating to the Status of Stateless
Persons to consider doing so.
• Human Rights Council Resolution 13/02, Human rights and arbitrary deprivation of nationality,
24 March 2010
UNHCR Executive Committee: Encourages States to give consideration to acceding to
the 1954 Convention relating to the Status of Stateless Persons and, in regard to States
Parties, to consider lifting reservations.
• Conclusion No. 106 (LVII) – 2006
Asian-African Legal Consultative Organization: Invites Member States to consider the
possibility of acceding to the 1954 Convention relating to the Status of Stateless Persons
and the 1961 Convention on the Reduction of Statelessness to address the plight ofstateless persons in an effective way.
• Resolution on the Half-Day Special Meeting on “Legal Identity and Statelessness”, 8 April 2006
General Assembly of the Organization of American States: Resolves 1. To invite thosemember states that have not yet done so to consider ratifying or acceding to, as the casemay be, the international instruments in the area of stateless persons, and to promote
the adoption of procedures and institutional mechanisms for their application, in accordance with those instruments. 2. To emphasize the importance of the international
instruments for the protection of stateless persons and for the prevention and reductionof statelessness, and to urge member states to follow up on the specific commitments
entered into during the celebration of the 50th anniversary of the Convention on the
Reduction of Statelessness, with technical support from the Office of the United Nations High Commission for Refugees (UNHCR).
• Resolution of the General Assembly, AG/RES. 2787 (XLIII-O/13), Prevention and Reductionof Statelessness and Protection of Stateless Persons in the Americas, 5 June 2013
ProtectingtheRightsofStateless Persons

15Annex 1

MODEL INSTRUMENT OFACCESSION TO THE CONVENTIONR E L AT I N G TO T H E STAT U S O FSTAT E L E SS P E R SO N S O F 1 9 5 4WHEREAS a Convention relating to the Status of Stateless Persons was adopted
by the Conference of the Plenipotentiaries on the twenty-eighth day of September, one thousand nine hundred and fifty-four, and is open for accession
pursuant to Article 35 thereof;
AND WHEREAS, it is provided in section 4 of the said Article 35 that accession thereto shall be affected by deposit of an instrument with the Secretary
General of the United Nations;
NOW THEREFORE, the undersigned, [Title of Head of State, Head ofGovernment or Foreign Minister] hereby notifies the accession of the [State
concerned];
GIVEN under my hand in _______________ this _______ day of______ two
thousand and _______.
[Public Seal and Signature of custodian if appropriate][Signature of Head of State, Head of Government or Foreign Minister]

16

ProtectingtheRightsofStateless Persons

A PERSONAL APPEALFROM THE UNITED
NATIONS HIGHCOMMISSIONERFOR REFUGEESStateless children are often unable
to obtain primary education. For several
decades, the State of Sabah in Malaysia
has been host to refugees from thePhilippines and migrants from Indonesia
and the Philippines. The children ofthese groups often end up stateless.
While children who possess the rightdocuments are able to attend school,
those who don’t, like the two boyson the right, are left out of mostpublic programmes.

I would like more information about:

UNHCR and its work on statelessness
Visit UNHCR’s statelessness website atwww.unhcr.org/statelessness. You can also
consult relevant Conclusions on International
Protection of UNHCR’s Executive Committee,
in particular Conclusion 106 on Identification,
Prevention and Reduction of Statelessness andProtection of Stateless Persons (2006).

International law relating to theprotection of stateless persons,
including the 1954 Convention
relating to the Status of Stateless
Persons

G. CONSTANTINE

Today, millions of people around theworld face serious difficulties owing tostatelessness. The Convention relating to
the Status of Stateless Persons provides
a framework for States to assist statelesspeople – allowing them to live in security
and dignity until their situation can be
resolved. Presently, very few States are
parties to this instrument. We need tochange that. I call on States to accede
to the Convention and pledge the full
support of my Office to governments to
help implement its provisions.

Cover :

António Guterres
Published by:
UNHCR
P.O. Box 2500
1211 Geneva 2
Switzerland
UNHCR, January 2014

For a more detailed discussion of the 1954
Convention as well as other international
norms relating to the protection of statelesspersons, see Nationality and Statelessness: A
Handbook for Parliamentarians (UNHCR
and Inter-Parliamentary Union, 2005, revised
second edition forthcoming in 2014). For adetailed commentary on the 1954 Convention,
see Convention relating to the Status ofStateless Persons – Its History and Interpretation(Robinson, 1955), and UNHCR Guidelines onStatelessness on the definition of “Stateless
Person” in Article 1(1) of the 1954 Convention
relating to the Status of Stateless Persons;
Procedures for Determining whether an
Individual is a Stateless Person; and the Statusof Stateless Persons at the National Level. To
access these and other relevant international
documents on statelessness, visit UNHCR’s
Refworld website at http://www.refworld.org/
statelessness.html

Protecting the Rights ofStateless Persons
The 1954 Convention relating to the Status of Stateless Persons