Sustainable Development Goal 16.9 makes birth registration the focus for improving legal identity for all. Since the adoption of the SDGs, the link between legal identity and the fight to end statelessness has been strengthened. That is why SDG16.9 has come to be about more than birth registration. Rather, it is about the importance of government identification systems and good …
Nearly 18 months on from the start of the pandemic, a lot has changed. We (well, some of us) have access to vaccines, ventilators, oxygen and even funding to support those who have suffered loss of earnings. But many countries have struggled to provide the healthcare and financial support their residents and citizens need. Equally, rolling out the vaccine has …
I previously wrote about two marginalised communities in Kenya, the Nubian and the Somali communities, and their struggle to obtain legal status and citizenship. Both communities face burdens not imposed on most other Kenyans. But they are not alone in campaigning for recognition as citizens of Kenya. In this blog I reflect on the recent progress made by the Shona …
In this blog I consider the recent decision of the UN Human Rights Committee (UNHRC) in the case of a young boy living in the Netherlands, Denny Zhao. Zhao is registered as of ‘nationality unknown’ rather than stateless. Under current Dutch law and procedure he has no prospect of finding protection as a stateless person, becoming a Dutch citizen, or …
In my last blog I looked at how climate change and cross-border migration interrelate and what would happen in the event that entire communities and even states were displaced due to climate change. In the rest of this series I look at which international law regimes might offer protection now and in the future. And where better to start, for …
The current issue of the excellent Statelessness & Citizenship Review is out now. I was delighted to be asked to contribute a case note to this year’s volume. Mulowayi v Minister of Home Affairs is an appeal to the South African Constitutional Court from a decision of the High Court of South Africa dealing with the validity of a regulation …
One of the main ways to stem the Covid-19 pandemic is to track how many people have become ill, how many have died, how many have recovered. To tackle the virus effectively those that have been in contact with someone who has been ill or is a carrier need to be traced. They may need to be isolated. If and …
I had every intention of posting new blogs at the usual twice-monthly rate as the Covid-19 outbreak started. After all, now that I am in lockdown and not commuting to work, would I not have much more time for this and all manner of other (indoor) activities? I had not appreciated how much head space would be taken up with …
Late last year I discussed whether digital identity is the answer to universal individual legal identity. In this blog I look at a related issue: states which struggle to provide a legal identity for all are being asked to take a leap forward and harmonise their identity systems to make them interconnected and interoperable. What does this mean? Is this …
Season’s Greetings! This blog will take a short break over the festive period, returning in January for more on legal identity, belonging, citizenship and statelessness. For those celebrating Christmas and New Year this month – enjoy the holidays. If, like me, you are travelling this holiday season – for pleasure or to join friends and family – spare a thought …
