Religions for Peace and United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees invite you to join the fight against statelessness. Today 10 million people are denied a nationality and basic human rights. You can help. Please sign – and share – the open letter #ibelong.
Esteemed Colleague,
More than fifty years ago, the international community agreed to assist stateless people and work to prevent statelessness, by adopting the 1954 Convention relating to the Status of Stateless Persons and the 1961 Convention on the Reduction of Statelessness. The United Nations General Assembly also gave UNHCR the formal mandate to prevent and reduce statelessness, as well as to identify and protect stateless people
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UNHCR and Religions for Peace invite you to join us in the quest to achieve a world without statelessness. In today’s environment, each year brings new complex emergencies even as long-standing crises go unresolved and endure. Unlike many other global challenges, there is a clear and eminently achievable path to resolve statelessness.
Despite increased international awareness of the problem and action to address it, at least ten million people around the world continue to live without a nationality. Left in legal limbo, they often live a marginalized, invisible existence and are deprived of the basic human rights that most people take for granted.
We urge you to join the dignitaries who have already signalled their support for UNHCR’s global campaign to end statelessness within a decade. By signing the attached open letter and encouraging others in your community to do the same, you can help us to call on world leaders to take action and end the plight of stateless people. The open letter is also available at ibelong.unhcr.org.
We welcome your personal contribution to the resolution of this major global problem. You may sign the open letter online at http://ibelong.unhcr.org/en/home.do
Yours Sincerely,
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Dr. William F. Vendley |
Antonio Guterres |
RELIGIONS FOR PEACE-the world’s largest and most representative multi-religious coalition-advances common action among the world’s religious communities for peace. Religions for Peace works to transform violent conflict, advance human development, promote just and harmonious societies, and protect the earth. The global Religions for Peace network comprises a World Council of senior religious leaders from all regions of the world; six regional inter-religious bodies and more than eighty national ones; and the Global Women of Faith Network and Global Interfaith Youth Network.
777 United Nations Plaza | New York, NY 10017 USA | Tel: +1 212-687-2163 | Fax: +1 212-983-0098 | www.religionsforpeace.org
