We spoke to Noana Wilhelm, Head of Communications at Statefree – a non-profit organisation that aims to create visibility and community around the topic of statelessness, led by a community of empowered stateless people and allies.
This year marks 70 years of UNHCR’s 1954 Statelessness Convention. In recognition of this, Statefree have developed the 70 Years, 70 Voices campaign – what is the campaign about and what do you hope it will achieve?
The campaign highlights the stark reality that, despite the passage of seven decades, there has been little progress in addressing the rights of stateless people. Through the voices and personal stories of 70 stateless individuals, the campaign brings to light the often unseen experiences of our community. Their voices have been brought together by our team and in the course of the campaign they are shared in various formats, making the message accessible and impactful for a wide range of audiences. As an extension, we spread knowledge and encourage dialogue with our "70 facts about statelessness" and "70 ways to support" formats.
The goal of the campaign is not just to raise awareness, but to serve as a critical reminder to both policymakers and society at large about the gap between the promises made when the Convention was adopted and the current state of statelessness. It challenges us to reflect on what was envisioned 70 years ago and the long road still ahead to achieving those goals.
Statelessness affects millions of people worldwide, yet many people have never heard of it. Beyond listening and sharing, how else can people – and organisations – be inspired to take action to help improve the lives of stateless communities?
To help improve the lives of stateless communities, the most important step is to be informed. Knowing the facts allows us to engage in meaningful, informed conversations and advocate effectively. I would highlight the importance of three things in particular.
Firstly, to enable belonging by encouraging companies to include statelessness in their HR and DEI programs. This could help stateless people find jobs more easily when they have a work permit. Build bridges with schools, speak to universities about how the application system is often excluding stateless people.
Secondly, to build political pressure. Actively push for statelessness to be included on the political agenda. This can be done by reaching out to media, journalists, and politicians to raise awareness and demand action. Ask specialist organisations, like us, to pre-write an article on the matter to send to your local newspaper. Ask for stateless people to be invited for an interview.
Thirdly, to recognize the value of stateless individuals. For example, a stateless person might be the most qualified applicant for a niche job, an expert speaker at an event or the perfect fit to teach about systemic issues in bureaucratic procedures. Highlighting these unique contributions can help build support and elevate their voices.
Statefree worked with us on our community Storytelling Guidelines, which recognized that speaking at panels and events can be a powerful tool to improve visibility of statelessness, but that this process must be valuable and empowering. What has your experience been of speaking out about statelessness? How can event organisers improve that experience?
As Head of Communications I rarely speak about statelessness as such, but more about the tools of political communications and strategy. I have however often witnessed how a lack of knowledge, privilege, or even ignorance can lead to stateless people's voices being overshadowed or dismissed, even in spaces where their stories should be central.
There are several proactive steps that can be taken to help ensure that the voices of stateless individuals are truly heard and respected. For example, when asking stateless individuals to share their stories, organisations should clarify what is expected to create a more supportive atmosphere for all participants. Interview questions should be sent in advance, and fair speaking time should be guaranteed, to prevent any unintentional misrepresentation and ensure everyone gets a chance to speak. A safety net should also be built in – if something goes wrong, or a speaker feels uncomfortable, then others should be ready to step in and lift each other up.
These are some of the principles we developed together with ENS, Apatride and other stateless activists. Co-developing storytelling guidelines showed how much of a shared understanding exists of what is needed in order to share one's story comfortably and safely. The guidelines also provide simple and concrete steps that organisations, journalists and researchers can take to ensure speaking engagements are not extractive but add value to everyone involved.
What have been some of Statefree’s recent successes in statelessness advocacy and what are your thoughts on how these might impact on the lives of stateless communities?
Our most recent successes in statelessness advocacy have made a real impact, particularly in Germany. From next year, we have secured funding from the German Ministry of the Interior which ensures the continuation of our work and adds legitimacy to our efforts. We have gained increased attention from podcasts, influencers, and journalists who are interested in raising awareness and broadening public understanding of statelessness, whichhas helped raise the profile of the issue. And in terms of political engagement, we got to hold and organise the parliamentary breakfast in October, co-led by the social democrats and the green party in Germany, where German Bundestag delegates heard directly from the stateless community and us. This has helped bring the issue to the political forefront.
What have been your highlights of the 70 years, 70 voices campaign so far? Or any stories you’d particularly like to amplify here?
The "70 Years, 70 Voices" campaign has been full of meaningful moments and still is.
I feel deeply honoured every time I get to work with the stateless community. Being entrusted with their stories, especially as a newcomer to Statefree, is a responsibility I take to heart.
One particularly memorable moment was our video shoot in September. Our testimonials were treated like celebrities, with hair and makeup sessions before their individual filming slots. Seeing them shine and be comfortable in that way was incredibly special.
Also, we filmed in front of a green screen, and later hired an AI designer to create backgrounds that visually matched the stories the participants shared. When they saw the final product and told me that it reflected their memories, I was genuinely touched.
What keeps you positive in today’s often difficult and challenging world?
What keeps me positive is the resilience of our community, team, and supporters - it fuels our work. I also find hope in small successes when individual cases lead to real change. And growing political engagement gives me hope that, eventually, things will improve.
