OSCE-UNHCR conference in Skopje aims to end statelessness in South-Eastern Europe

On 17 October 2023, the OSCE High Commissioner on National Minorities (HCNM) with the OSCE Office of Democratic Institutions and Human Rights, the OSCE Mission to Skopje and the United Nations High Commissioner on Refugees (UNHCR), under the auspices of the 2023 OSCE Chairpersonship of North Macedonia, organized a one-day Conference on Statelessness. The Conference was intended as an exchange forum for over eighty participants representing national authorities, civil society and international organizations, to facilitate practical and informative discussions aimed at sharing good practices to prevent and address statelessness in the South-Eastern Europe region.

In his Opening Remarks, OSCE Chairman-in-Office, Foreign Minister of North Macedonia Bujar Osmani commended those present for their collective commitment to end statelessness in the region: “Addressing statelessness is our common struggle and endeavour. Only by working together can we fulfil our joint mission to eradicate this dilemma…Today’s broad participation of governments, international organizations, and civil society representatives from the participating States from our region, speaks strongly of our commitment to address this issue. We are here today not just as representatives of different organizations, but as a collective force for change.” OSCE High Commissioner on National Minorities Kairat Abdrakhmanov went on to add that “by working to prevent and address statelessness within national minority populations, the OSCE participating States not only uphold the principles of equality and justice but also contribute to long-term peace, stability, and social cohesion.”

Statelessness is not only a serious human rights issue for the people affected and society as a whole, but can also lead to tensions within communities that need to be addressed. The participation of stateless persons in public life and their inclusion in decision-making processes are fundamental elements of OSCE commitments and principles and are critically important to peace and security. From a security perspective, it is in the interest of States to prevent statelessness on their territories and provide opportunities for everyone to be a productive member of society. The 57 OSCE participating States have made a number of commitments regarding the protection of stateless persons; such as the right to nationality, access to citizenship, civil registration and the provision of documents, among others.

Persons belonging to national minorities, including the Roma, have a higher risk of statelessness due to difficulties in confirming their nationality and obtaining identity documents. Statelessness can be devastating and can lead those affected to question their sense of belonging in society. Feelings of disenfranchisement stemming from the lack of access to nationality can also give rise to grievances and resentment, potentially exacerbating already existing inter-ethnic tensions. “The spirit of co-operation demonstrated as we gather here today is heartening. I hope that we can use this positive impetus to give wind to the sails of our collective efforts to address the obstacles that perpetuate statelessness among national minorities in South-Eastern Europe. Together, we can have a positive impact on addressing and preventing statelessness as part of our aim to promote stability and cohesion in South-Eastern Europe,” emphasized Abdrakhmanov.

The OSCE High Commissioner on National Minorities enjoys a close working relationship with UNHCR, as evidenced through the landmark Memorandum of Understanding which was signed in June this year. The HCNM looks forward to enhancing the strategic partnership and co-operation in areas of mutual interest, in accordance with the respective mandates, particularly when it comes to addressing and preventing statelessness among national minorities in the OSCE region.