Date: 27 August 2026
Source: APC
Photo: Apatride Network

 

 

The initiative of Apatride Network, supported and joined by the Asylum Protection Center (APC), has succeeded in bringing about an important change in the employment regime for stateless persons within the United Nations system. After years of advocacy, UNHCR removed administrative barriers that had excluded stateless individuals from equal employment opportunities and opened its recruitment system to stateless applicants.

Apatride Network, an organisation led by stateless persons, has for years been drawing attention to the discrimination faced by stateless individuals when applying for jobs within the UN system. Due to the absence of nationality, many were unable to submit applications, as they were forced to select a nationality they do not possess or their applications were automatically rejected. This is precisely why Apatride Network launched an initiative calling on UNHCR to remove these barriers and ensure equal access to employment.

In August 2024, UNHCR adopted this initiative and introduced a “Stateless” option into its application system, enabling stateless persons for the first time to apply for positions without the pressure to select a nationality they do not have. This change was not merely technical. UNHCR simultaneously adjusted internal procedures within its Human Resources and Legal departments to ensure that applications from stateless persons could be properly processed. In doing so, one of the most significant obstacles for stateless individuals was removed, opening space for their expertise and experience to be considered on equal terms.

Throughout the initiative, members of Apatride Network actively raised awareness at the local, regional, and global levels about the challenges faced by stateless persons—particularly the barriers to accessing labour markets and employment worldwide. They emphasised that the first and most important step in addressing these issues is enabling stateless persons to be employed within the UN system, provided they meet the qualifications required for the positions.

After months of joint advocacy, the initiative gained global support and became the basis for a call for all UN agencies to adopt UNHCR’s practice. A total of 104 organisations from different parts of the world signed the Joint Statement urging the entire UN system to remove remaining barriers and ensure equal access to employment for stateless persons.

The signatories highlight three key reasons why this reform is essential.
First, equal rights must be consistently upheld: stateless persons are entitled to the same employment opportunities as everyone else, and the UN has an obligation to remove unwarranted barriers and align its internal practices with principles of inclusion and non-discrimination.
Second, the UN’s credibility depends on consistency between the values it promotes and the practices it implements. The UN cannot advocate the principle of “leaving no one behind” while some of its agencies maintain systemic obstacles that exclude stateless persons.
Third, solutions already exist: UNHCR’s model demonstrates that barriers can be removed through a simple technical adjustment, without complications, costs, or delays.

Extending this practice across the entire UN system would have significance beyond the recruitment process itself. It would strengthen global understanding that stateless persons exist, that the absence of nationality does not mean the absence of capability, and that stateless individuals have the same right to a dignified life and work as everyone else.
APC joined the initiative because, in its daily work, it increasingly encounters stateless persons and individuals at risk of statelessness—including irregular migrants, asylum seekers, returnees under readmission agreements, and even individuals who have been granted asylum. APC provides information, legal, psychosocial, and integration support to these groups and continuously highlights their situation in Serbia, as well as the growing risks that more people may lose their nationality and become stateless.

By signing the Joint Statement, APC joined a global coalition calling on the UN to remove remaining barriers and enable stateless persons to contribute their knowledge, experience, and perspectives to the work of the United Nations.

The following organisations are signatories of the Joint Statement on Ensuring UN System Inclusion of Stateless Applicants:
ABC Tamil Oli
Action for Save Humanity in Emergency
Action Network on Forced Displacement
Aditus Foundation
Advocates for Non-Discrimination and Access to Knowledge (ANAK)
Al-Rawnak Organization for Women and Children
ANAK Sabah
Apatride Network
Apna Haq
Apoyo a Migrantes Venezolanos
Arakan Rohingya Society for Peace and Human Rights (ARSPH)
ASKV Refugee Support
Associação dos Venezuelanos no Estado do Amazonas (ASOVEAM)
Associación Por Ti Mujer (APTM)
Association Human Constanta International
Asylum Protection Center (APC/CZA)
Asylum-Seekers & Refugees Solidarity Association (ARSA)
Banka Earth Foundation
Bhutanese Community in The Netherlands (BCN)
British Rohingya Community UK
Caleidoscopio Humano
CALLS Network
Catalysts for Change
CEDESO
Centre for Youths Integrated Development (CYID)
Centro de Desarrollo Sostenible
Citizenship Affected Peoples Network
Citizenship Youth Statelessness Committee Nepal
Coalicion por Venezuela
Comite de los Derechos Humanos de los Dominicos Haitianos (CODHA)
Community Rights in Greece
Congolese Civil Society of South Africa
Conselho Português para os Refugiados
Doctors of the World UK
DUS. Sustainability Research Centre (DUSSRC)
Economic Inclusion Group
Endam Home of Hope
European Network of Refugee, Migrant and Stateless Changemakers (ENRMSC)
European Network on Statelessness
Falconscare Initiative for Women with Disabilities Empowerment (FIWDE)
Family Frontiers
Flüchtlingsrat Niedersachsen e.V.
Forcibly Displaced People Network
Foundation for Access to Rights (FAR)
Fundación Manitas Amarillas
Fundación Nakama’s
Fundación para la Innovación, Investigación, Formación y el Desarrollo Comunitario (FÜNDEC)
Fundación Puentes para el Desarrollo de Centroamérica
Give Hope Initiatives
Global Campaign for Equal Nationality Rights
Global Movement Against Statelessness
Global Statelessness Fund
Greek Forum of Refugees
Haki Centre Organization
Here to Support
HIAS Greece
Institute on Statelessness and Inclusion
International Catholic Migration Commission Europe
Italiani Senza Cittadinanza
Jesuit Refugee Service Romania
Law for Palestine
LegalHub
Maisha e.V.- African Women in Germany
MediNetz Würzburg e.V.
Migrans Women Hungary Association (She4She)
Mission Armenia
Mosaico Azioni for Refugees
Moviment Graffitti
Moving Minds Alliance
Mujeres Supervivientes
Nationality For All
Observatório das Mulheres
Organization for Aid to Refugees (OPU)
Pastoralist In Action Development Organization (PIADO)
Peace Institute (Mirovni inštitut)
Praxis
Quentin Banga
Refugee Advisory Board (RAB) – Germany
Refugees Welcome Portigual
Rohingya Rights Response (RRR)
Rohingya Youth Development Association (RYDA)
Roma Versitas Kosovo
Salam for Democracy and Human Rights
Save My Identity
SHARE Network
SHOAA for Human Rights
Sienos grupė
Southern Africa Network for Immigrants and Refugees
Statefree
Statelessness Legal Clinic at the University of Naples Federico II
Stichting Stil Utrecht
Swedish Refugee Law Council
Swiss Minorities Sports Culture & Integration
The Norwegian Centre Against Racism
The Organization for Aid to Refugees
The Refugee Voice
The Right to Be Campaign
The Rights Agenda – La Agenda de Derechos
The Shelter Students Refuge
University of Liverpool Law Clinic
UTSOPI
VenAmerica
Women Action For Rural Development Initiative
World Roma Federation