Topic: Rights of Stateless Persons
Country: Nigeria
Delegate Name: Jessegrace Ford
School: Mattawan High School
Topic page: background guide and all position papers All Nigeria position papers GLIMUN 2016 committees
A vast number of the world’s population are vulnerable to threats without a national government to protect them or provide support. These people are labeled as ‘stateless persons’ or by definition “a person who is not considered as a national by any State under the operation of its law.” As part of the human race, they argue that their rights exist regardless of where they reside. As a stateless person, they are not offered social services and are denied official documents of citizenry. This circumstance is, undoubtedly, not chosen by the people. Instead, the state of statelessness may be the result from war or a variety of other factors. Thus, stateless people as a whole are asking help from their allies within the United Nations to provide aid in protecting these stateless people and welcoming them as their own citizens. In the past there have been numerous drafted documents one of which was at the 1954 Convention, which then put into place those responsibilities of willing and able states to take in stateless people and treat them as an equal. While this a step in the right direction, a large portion of the public are asking for more drastic measures because only 89 states have agreed to this treaty.
Within the country of Nigeria, there is an undocumented amount of stateless persons who are fleeing to their country. These stateless people are fleeing for numerous reasons including civil war dilemmas, territorial disputes etc.. The UNHCR has been providing aid and support to the country through a national study. The bordering countries in the region of West Africa are fleeing into Nigeria seeking refuge. Advocates for stateless people began a major movement of support at the 1954 convention in order to further educate countries on statelessness and how they can support those who are denied nationality.
Nigeria would like to see further action being made for as more efficient way to count stateless people immigrating into their country. By doing this, the UNHCR will be able to aid Nigeria more proportionally across the region and track how their aid is being used within the country.
