Topic: Rights of Stateless Persons
Country: United Kingdom
Delegate Name: Andres Maldonado Solís
School: Instituto Educativo Olinca
Topic page: background guide and all position papers All United Kingdom position papers GLIMUN 2016 committees
According to international law, the status of “stateless” refers to the lack of citizenship. Someone who lacks of the previous characteristic is often denied basic social services, such as: healthcare, education, nutrition, job training. and such.
This subject, historically speaking, has been brought up to debate several times. How can these people get a nationality? Which responsibilities do host countries have on these people?Which responsibilities do these people have on the matter?
According to the Universal Declaration of Human Rights Article 15, everyone has the right to a nationality. Also, no one shall be arbitrarily deprived of this nationality nor denied the right to change his or her nationality. Where’s the fault?
Statistics prove that, at least, 20% of this stateless, meaning 2 million people across the world, have been defined as stateless due to lack of documentation.
2. Current Situation
The United Kingdom, since the publishing of the 1954 Convention relating to the Status of Stateless Persons, has protected, anyone living in its territory, under British protection without necessarily being British subjects.
UK will not deny anyone’s human rights. Nevertheless, it will not grant citizenship to all people in need of one. In order for UK to grant this nationality, under British law, must prove their Jus soli (right of the soil) or their Jus sanguinis (right of blood).
3. Proposals
This delegation thinks that the appropriate decision is to widen the stateless rights. This with the objective of accomplishing the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees to end with the stateless crisis by the year of 2024. In order to accomplish this, this delegation would like to exhort the participation of all countries in this committee. Also, the UK thinks other countries should must do their duty with these people and give them their human rights. Meaning, not to deny them basic social services or the right to work or rent/own a property.
