WEBINAR: #StatelessJourneys - What’s next for work to protect the rights of stateless refugees in Europe?

Events
Online
29 May 2024 11:00 - 12:00 CEST

To mark the culmination of our #StatelessJourneys campaign, this webinar reflected on our joint efforts over the last four years with ENS members, partners, and stateless changemakers.

📅 Wednesday 29 May, 10:00-11:00 GMT / 11:00-12:00 CET

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SPEAKERS

Sirazul Islam (Moderator)

Sirazul Islam (Moderator)

Community Engagement Coordinator, ENS

Nina Murray

Nina Murray

Head of Policy & Research, ENS

Elena Isabel Olivares Berlanga

Deputy Director General for Institutional Relations and Information on International Protection in Madrid.

Thugten Drupka

Thugten Drupka

President, Association of Bhutanese Communities in Denmark (ABCD)

Aleksandra Semeriak Gavrilenok

Aleksandra Semeriak Gavrilenok

ENS Trustee, Member of Apatride Network and Statefree, formerly stateless person

Valeria Ilareva

Valeria Ilareva

Chairperson and Head lawyer, Foundation for Access to Rights (FAR)

Webinar description

During the webinar, we considered the progress made in advancing the rights of stateless refugees & migrants in Europe and discuss next steps. Working together, we have achieved significant impact through:

  • Delivering impactful research/analysis and capacity-building activities
  • Advocating for law and policy reform both at regional level and through national coalitions
  • Telling people's stories
  • Engaging with affected communities to better understand - and take action to improve - the lives of stateless refugees

As the EU grapples with the implications of the new Pact on Migration and Asylum, we will consider its impact on stateless refugees and migrants. Our #StatelessJourneys campaign highlighted why identifying statelessness is critical to determining international protection needs and protecting fundamental rights, including the rights of children. Whilst the Pact raises significant concerns about the EU’s approach to migration and asylum more broadly, it is welcome that our calls for improved identification of statelessness were heard by policymakers and incorporated in the adopted instruments. These new provisions now need to be implemented so statelessness is identified, and stateless people’s rights are respected in EU asylum systems.

The webinar heard from some of those involved in the project about what they have been doing and what they think is needed to build on the significant momentum we have achieved. Together we need to find ways to ensure that refugee response actors:

  • Continue developing and using necessary tools and knowledge to act on recent policy changes
  • Monitor and hold those in power to account on their implementation
  • Continue to ensure that people affected by statelessness are not forgotten in ongoing much-needed efforts to uphold the fundamental rights of refugees and migrants in Europe
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