2024 World Conference on Statelessness: Solidarity. Knowledge. Change.

01 Mar 2024

6 Min Read

Taylor's Impact Lab (Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions)

IN THIS ARTICLE

The 2024 World Conference on Statelessness was hosted by and held at Taylor’s University, Subang Jaya from 26 to 29 February 2024. It was organised by the Institute on Statelessness and Inclusion (ISI), Nationality for All (NFA Asia-Pacific), Development of Human Resources for Rural Areas (DHRRA Malaysia) and Family Frontiers (Malaysia), with support from the Human Rights Commission of Malaysia (SUHAKAM). Taylor’s University’s School of Law and Governance was also part of the conference’s organising committee, supported by the Taylor’s Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions Impact Lab.

This conference gathered 450 participants from over 50 countries and regions worldwide, fostering a safe environment for exchanging ideas pertaining to this critical issue. Additionally, there were more than 100 people who virtually participated in selected parts of the conference where hybrid sessions were offered. The participants consisted of individuals from diverse backgrounds, ranging from those with lived experience as stateless, individuals to artists, community leaders, and government representatives, all united by their drive to effect change in this cause.

Recognising the pressing need to support existing efforts and continue fostering a constructive discourse, this conference centred the discussions and activities on three central themes: Solidarity, Knowledge and Change.

Opening Day

The conference commenced with opening messages from various leaders, followed by a series of captivating art performances and panel discussions.

Prof. Barry Winn, Vice-Chancellor and President of Taylor’s University, kickstarted the conference by giving a warm welcome to the conference participants.

Professor Barry Winn, Vice-Chancellor and President of Taylor’s University, kickstarted the conference by giving a warm welcome to the conference participants.

Hands Percussion, a Malaysian Creative Percussion Group, thoroughly captivated the audience with their performance centred on the themes of identity and belonging.

Amal de Chickera (Co-Founder and Co-Director of the Institute on Statelessness and Inclusion) delivered a heartfelt welcome address on behalf of the event organisers.

A moment of silence took place during Chickera’s speech.

Left to Right: Hai Kyung Jun (Director of the Regional Bureau Asia Pacific of the UN High Commissioner for Refugees), alongside Ragunath Kesavan (Deputy Chair of SUHAKAM), and Neha Gurung and Aleksejs Ivashuk (Global Movement Against Statelessness), delivered impactful messages to the audience. This followed a video message from Volker Turk (UN High Commissioner for Human Rights - not pictured).

The members of the Statelessness Action Group delivered a touching play entitled "Grief Unanswered", based on real-life stories of the stateless, as part of the “Think of Others" Immersive Arts and Culture Programme.

A series of panel discussions on regional developments then took place concurrently. The discussions covered five regions: Asia and the Pacific, Americas, Africa, North Africa, Europe, and the Middle East.

Day 1: Knowledge

The theme for the first day of the conference was ‘Knowledge’, dedicated to examining the subject of generating and applying knowledge within the field. There were various panel discussions addressing the study and research of statelessness, revisiting international frameworks, and exploring the issue of statelessness from regional, socio-economic and age perspectives. Additionally, there were several workshops held for participants to gain a deeper understanding of the stateless experience and to learn about statelessness-related art and its creative process.

Chris Nash (Director and Co-Founder, European Network on Statelessness) shared about the resources available to support the study of statelessness in the panel discussion “Knowledge as a Driver of Change”, alongside other speakers.

Attendees participating in one of the "Think of Others" activity booths by penning and pinning poems on the world map.

A dynamic panel discussion on Launching the Global Movement Against Statelessness with the members of the Interim Core Group of the Global Movement Against Statelessness, moderated by Deepa Nambiar (Director of Partnerships, Asylum Access).

Participants actively collaborated on an artwork in the session entitled “Money Tree: The Currency of Migration".

Participants were engaged in a life-sized Snakes and Ladders game that illustrated the ups and downs of Malaysian women striving for equal citizenship rights.

An exhibition booth by Advocates for Non-discrimination and Access to Knowledge (ANAK) focusing on the issue of statelessness in Sabah, Malaysia.

There was also a photo exhibition featuring the artwork from the International Art Contest for Minority Rights on Statelessness award recipients, namely Zahra Hassan Marwan, Jean Philippe Moiseau and Abdullah and those with honourable mentions.

Day 1 of the conference ended with a stunning Karen Don Dance by the Malaysia Karen Organisation. Karen is an ethnic group primarily found in Myanmar and Thailand.

Day 2: Solidarity

The second day of the conference centered around the theme of ‘Solidarity’, emphasising the significance of collective alliance in addressing injustice and power disparities in the field. In addition to exploring various aspects of statelessness, the agenda included sessions focusing on community empowerment and skills workshops on fundraising and national advocacy, which are all imperative in bolstering solidarity.

Marin Roman (Senior Statelessness Officer, Division of International Protection, UNHCR Geneva) alongside with Monika Sandvik (Senior Statelessness Coordinator, Division of International Protection, UNCHR Geneva) were some of the panel speakers sharing about The Global Alliance to End Statelessness, UNHCR’s new initiative to expedite the resolution of statelessness by 2030.

“Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions", a Taylor’s University Impact Lab, was one of the partners that supported the conference.

A captivating choir performance by Ruth Milal Choir, the refugee youths from Ruth Refugee Education Centre.

Nur Ain Abdullah (Malaysian community volunteer and citizenship rights activist) spoke on statelessness and migration with other panelists.

Jade Roberts (Research Fellow, the Peter McMullin Centre on Statelessness, University of Melbourne) facilitated a workshop on the next generation of Statelessness Scholars.

Conference participants explored an art exhibition that featured visual stories of individuals and communities impacted by statelessness.

Maalini Ramalo (Director of Social Protection, Development of Human Resources for Rural Areas Malaysia), alongside other speakers, gave the closing address for Day 2 of the conference.

Day 3: Change

The theme for the last day of the conference was ‘Change’, symbolising the vision for the community through innovation and collaboration. The sessions touched on various disciplines from law to health, risk, safety, and education.

Maha Balakrishnan (Parliamentary and Institutional Development Specialist, Malaysia) shared in the panel session “National Sovereignty, Federal Constitution and Statelessness: The Right Way Forward” with other panelists.

A participant posed at the "Think of Others" activity booth, featuring the artwork from "Money Tree: The Currency of Migration" session.

The panel addressing statelessness through UN mechanisms drew a full house of attendees.

Professor Benyam Dawit Mezmur (Chairperson, United Nation’s Committee on the Rights of the Child) concluded Day 3 of the conference with Neha Gurung (Global Movement Against Statelessness – not pictured).

Conference participants shared their thoughts with one another as part of the closing activity.

Conference participants enjoyed a “musical dialogue” performance intertwining North Indian tabla, Malay gendang, and Western guitar, depicting the community’s ability to transcend language barriers and bridges cultural gaps.

Bina Ramanand (Lead Coordinator, Family Frontiers, Malaysia) and Maalini Ramalo (Director of Social Protection, Development of Human Resources for Rural Areas, Malaysia) wrapped up the 4-day conference.

Conference participants from different cultural backgrounds experienced a moment of joy and camaraderie together during the conference.

Overall, the four-day conference successfully served its purpose of bringing people together to improve the circumstances of the stateless community. As shared by Wala Hussain Sidahmed Hussain (LLB student, School of Law and Governance, Taylor’s University), “The global collaboration on tackling statelessness instils confidence in finding a solution, reflecting the strength of our global community. Personally, I am committed to carrying the knowledge and insights gained from this experience forward, with the goal of incorporating them into future endeavours that may contribute to this vital cause.”

All in all, this conference not only enriched the collective knowledge base but also inspired a renewed sense of solidarity within the community, laying the groundwork for continued collaboration and change in the ongoing fight for equal rights and recognition.

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