Achieving Equal Nationality Rights, 22 September, Geneva

Geneva, 17 September 2015
 
Woman with banner reading Equal Nationality laws in 27 countries prevent mothers from passing their nationality to their children on an equal basis with fathers. This discrimination results in a range of other significant human rights violations and suffering for individuals and families, contributing to myriad problems, including: statelessness; lack of access to public education, health care and other social services; child marriage; gender-based violence; unemployment and poverty. 

On Tuesday 22 September the Office of the High Commission for Human Rights (OHCHR), the UN Human Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), the Equal Rights Trust, and the Global Campaign for Equal Nationality Rights are co-organising the side event, Achieving Equal Nationality Rights at the 30th session of the UN Human Rights Council in Geneva, Switzerland. 

Location and Time
Room XIII, Batiment E. Palais des Nations, Geneva 
Tuesday 22 September, 13hr - 14.30pm 
 
Speakers:
Dr. Dimitrina Petrova, Executive Director, Equal Rights Trust
Ms. Zahra Albarazi, Senior Researcher, Institute on Statelessness and Inclusion
H.E. Mr. Boudjemâa Delmi, Permanent Representative, Permanent Mission of Algeria to the United Nations in Geneva 
Representative of the UNHCR
H.E. Ambassador Keith Harper, U.S. Representative to the Human Rights Council
 
Moderator:
Ms. Veronica Birga, Head of Women’s Rights and Gender Section, OHCHR
 

Further Details 

During the event, the Equal Rights Trust will launch its latest report looking at two countries which have recently reformed their laws to remove gender discrimination – Indonesia and Kenya – and two countries which have yet to reform their laws – Nepal and Madagascar. The findings of this research illustrate the impact of gender discrimination in nationality laws and identify lessons for states seeking to reform and those hoping to influence them. It also highlights some less well-known aspects of the problem, such as the link to ethnic discrimination.
 
The representative from OHCHR will also provide an overview of gender discrimination in nationality laws within a human rights framework and serve as moderator. Algeria’s Permanent Representative to the United Nations will share lessons learned from that country’s successful reform process and discuss the positive impact of reforms. A representative from UNHCR will discuss the link between gender discrimination in nationality laws and statelessness. The United States Representative to the Human Rights Council will highlight the need for international support for the realization of gender equal nationality laws worldwide and discuss potential avenues of support.
 
To attend the event, please email yashsvi.chandra@equalrightstrust.org.

 

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