In a recent article published by www.trust.org, the topic of statelessness is addressed. The article discusses the issue that is statelessness poses when countries have not very delicately defined their specific territories. The definition of a stateless person is someone who is not recognized as a national by any country. Because of their lack of a country, these people are most often denied the most basic of human rights. This is a problem that goes largely unnoticed by the international community. According to the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), in 2009 there were around 12 million people around the world with no national status. This sets these people below even the most impoverished people of countries around the world, for those people at least these people have a national identity. Only very recently has anything been done to address the issue of statelessness. This December the UNHCR will be holding a meeting where countries of the UN will proposition various countries to join the 1961 convention and “make pledges to address specific concerns on their territory.” Until countries in various parts of the world sit down and discuss their various territorial issues, statelessness will still remain a large problem that we will continue to face. If it has not begun to be resolved in the coming years, this will give rise to territorial issues, which could lead to far bigger problems in the world. The countries of the UN need to insure that is addressed with haste so that much larger international problems can be avoided.
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ReplyDeleteThe topic of statelessness is a one of big issues to the world. As it has shown, people who do not have a nationality are easy to be denied by the most basic of human rights, and health care is one of them. Stateless person is also one of reasons why many health organizations are having hard time to collect the data about the health issues, and it makes it hard for these organizations to set the plan to help people. To conclude, the topic of statelessness is not just a issue with someone not recognized as a national by any country but it affects all of us in the world.
ReplyDeleteHaving statehood is something that too many take for granted nowadays and many don't realize that it is possible to live without technically being included by any one country. It is an issue that's stayed relatively secret simply because those who suffer from statelessness do not have a voice to speak with.
ReplyDeleteStatelessness can lead to isolated populations without healthcare. This means that they are pretty much just as bad off as undeveloped or developing countries because even though they have healthcare, they can't use it. It is very possible for acute and deadly diseases to spread through such populations very quickly. National borders must be drawn and censuses must be taken more seriously.
This is another issue that has ostensibly crept under our radar. It seems like the major causes are: aftermaths of wars, racial/ethnic discrimination and illegal immigration. One way forward would be to be more open and willing to accept people of other religions and race. This seems like an issue that would be tough to combat but countries should try to see the potential benefit to their country in recognizing these stateless people; a greater workforce, for example.
ReplyDeleteThis is a rather large problem, since the stateless people don't have a voice, as Maggie said. People rely on their governments to communicate with the rest of the world, so a stateless person is not represented at all in the world, and are probably even ignored by the nations they reside in, since they aren't technically "members" of that nation. Naturally, those people are often unable to find help when they need it, and are more prone to suffer from poverty and disease. However, the proposed solution of redrawing territorial lines is a delicate one, especially when outside governments are helping to decide them, since if one side feels the territory they have been left with is unfair, relations between the two neighbors could deteriorate and possibly lead to wars. So, while it would be a good way to get rid of statelessness, by simply creating or recreating a state for the stateless, it would have to be done in a way where relations don't fall apart.
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