Participation in the Experts Conference on the Eradication of Statelessness and Access to Legal Identity Documentation

Nairobi, Kenya | 25–27 July 2023

From 25 to 27 July 2023, the Centre for Research and Documentation for Sustainable Development in Africa (CEREDDA) took part in the Experts Conference on the Eradication of Statelessness and Access to Legal Identity Documentation in the Great Lakes Region, held in Nairobi, Kenya. This high-level conference was convened by the International Conference on the Great Lakes Region (ICGLR) in collaboration with the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) and aimed to address the persistent challenges related to statelessness and legal identity documentation across the region.

Purpose and Objectives of the Conference

The overarching objective of the conference was to strengthen the legal, administrative, and institutional capacities of ICGLR Member States in responding to the pressing issues of statelessness and inadequate access to identity documentation. Specific goals included:
• Promoting durable legal and policy reforms to address the legal invisibility of stateless and undocumented persons.
• Enhancing mechanisms for universal birth registration and equitable access to national identity documents.
• Advancing the implementation of the #IBelong campaign to end statelessness, as well as supporting efforts aligned with Sustainable Development Goal 16.9, which seeks to provide legal identity for all, including birth registration.

Key Discussions and Outcomes

Participants included statelessness focal points from all 12 ICGLR Member States, along with representatives from international organizations, civil society, academia, and refugee communities. A key feature of the conference was the presentation of a regional study entitled “Refugees from Generation to Generation: Preventing Statelessness by Advancing Durable Solutions in the Great Lakes Region.”

Findings from the study revealed significant gaps in documentation:

• An estimated 92% of adult refugees born in host countries in the region lack birth certificates.
• A large proportion of these populations remain legally invisible, facing restricted access to education, health services, and employment.

In response, delegates deliberated on practical and legislative interventions, culminating in an Outcome Document that outlined a strategic roadmap to:

• Remove legal and administrative barriers to documentation.
• Ensure that all persons born in the territory of a state can access civil registration and identity documents.
• Enhance regional cooperation and information sharing to prevent and reduce statelessness.

Looking Ahead

The conference reinforced the political will of ICGLR Member States to act collectively and decisively against statelessness. For CEREDDA, the event offered a critical platform to strengthen partnerships, share expertise, and contribute to the regional momentum toward legal identity for all. As the organization continues its work in Central Africa, it remains firmly committed to advancing the rights of the undocumented and stateless, ensuring that no one is left behind.