On 16 December, Armenia took a significant step forward in its efforts to address statelessness with the launch of the country’s Statelessness Index profile at an event co-hosted by Mission Armenia NGO and UNHCR Armenia in collaboration with the European Network on Statelessness (ENS).
The event brought together a diverse array of stakeholders—government representatives, civil society, and international organisations—to review the current situation in Armenia with regards to statelessness and outline future actions.
The Journey to the Index
The development of Armenia’s Statelessness Index began when ENS reached out to Mission Armenia to join the project at the end of 2024. Mission Armenia has extensive experience in conducting comprehensive, evidence-based assessments of the country’s statelessness landscape, having been active in addressing statelessness issues since 2018, so we were eager to join the initiative. The goal was to analyze Armenia’s legal framework, policies, and practices, compare them with international standards, and identify gaps and opportunities for reform.
Over several months, a dedicated team from Mission Armenia worked closely with ENS and UNHCR Armenia to complete a detailed Country Survey, which serves as the foundation for the development of each Country Profile by ENS.
This meticulous collaboration culminated in the presentation of Armenia’s Statelessness Index profile in December, which provides for the first time, a comprehensive snapshot of the country’s legal and policy environment across five key areas: International and Regional Instruments, Statelessness Population Data, Statelessness Determination and Status, Detention, and Prevention and Reduction.
Event Highlights and Key Discussions
The launch event opened with an overview by ENS of its role in advocating for stateless populations. Cameron Nye, ENS’s Legal Policy Officer, elaborated on ENS’s work and introduced the Statelessness Index as a comparative tool for assessing law, policy, and practice related to statelessness across Europe, aimed at monitoring the situation, providing reliable information, and supporting policy development.
The core of the event was the presentation of Armenia’s Statelessness Index profile, delivered by Narine Baghdasaryan (Mission Armenia) and Marine Antonyan (UNHCR Armenia). They highlighted the current assessment of Armenia’s performance across each component, acknowledging the country’s strengths—such as commitments to international treaties—and pinpointing critical gaps, especially in procedural safeguards and systematic data collection on stateless populations. This presentation provided valuable insights into areas requiring targeted policy interventions and further development.
The discussion then turned to regional and international best practices that are relevant to Armenia’s specific context. Drawing lessons from the experiences of other countries, Cameron Nye emphasised several key areas: the importance of reliable population data, conducting qualitative mapping studies, establishing referral mechanisms to Statelessness Determination Procedures (SDP), ensuring nationality at birth, and naturalisation of stateless children. He highlighted successful practices from countries such as Moldova, Norway, Georgia, and Czechia—focusing on those contextually or regionally close to Armenia. These countries serve as valuable examples, showcasing effective legal and policy frameworks that Armenia can adapt and implement to better address statelessness and safeguard vulnerable populations.
Towards Practical Solutions
The final panel fostered an engaging dialogue on actionable steps. Participants emphasised the importance of reforms, capacity building, and adopting best practices tailored to Armenia’s context. The Statelessness Index was recognised as a strategic tool to guide reforms and monitor progress.
Stakeholders expressed a shared commitment to leveraging the Index for evidence-based policymaking and highlighted the need for cross-sectoral collaboration. ENS reaffirmed its readiness to support Armenia’s efforts through ongoing assistance and expertise.
Looking Ahead
The launch of Armenia’s Statelessness Index marks a pivotal milestone in the country’s journey toward eradicating statelessness. It provides a basis for a roadmap for future actions, including legislative reviews, improved data collection, and the development of a comprehensive national strategy. This initiative exemplifies how a data-driven approach and multilateral cooperation can lead to meaningful change. By building on these foundations, Armenia can make significant strides toward protecting the rights of stateless persons and achieving the eradication of statelessness.
Conclusion
The Armenia Statelessness Index is more than just a measurement tool; it is a catalyst for reform and an expression of the country’s commitment to uphold the rights of its vulnerable populations. Continued collaboration and strategic action will be essential to translate insights into impactful policies, ensuring that no one remains invisible or without nationality in Armenia.
