London, 26 June 2012 

 

The Equal Rights Trust (ERT) cordially invites you to the launch of its Guidelines to Protect Stateless Persons from Arbitrary Detention (the Guidelines) on 18 July 6.00-8.30pm at Garden Court Chambers, 57-60 Lincoln's Inn Fields, London, WC2A 3LJ. 

The launch event will be chaired by Sir Bob Hepple (Chair of the ERT Board of Trustees). Speakers include the Rt. Hon. Lord Justice Sedley (former Judge of the Court of Appeal of England and Wales and Trustee of ERT), Roland Schilling (UNHCR Representative to the UK), Stefanie Grant (Senior Advisor to ERT’s statelessness work), Dimitrina Petrova (Executive Director of ERT) and Amal de Chickera (ERT Head of Statelessness and Nationality Projects). 

 

The Guidelines provide detailed guidance on how states should treat stateless persons in the context of immigration detention in order to comply with their obligations under international human rights law; in particular, the rights to equality and non-discrimination and the right to be free from arbitrary detention. They were drafted through a consultation process which sought to be comprehensive and inclusive and have been reviewed by experts in the complementary fields of human rights, equality, immigration, detention, refugees and statelessness. 

 

The Guidelines have been welcomed by many key individuals and organisations, and ERT intends to use them both as a practical protection tool to assist those representing stateless persons in detention and as an advocacy tool to influence policy and legislative change. 

In a concise and clear manner, the Guidelines identify and reinforce the rights of all stateless people to liberty and freedom from arbitrary detention. They should be required reading for all individuals involved in the detention of refugees, migrants and stateless populations, and incorporated into any legislation, regulation or policy that may impact stateless persons. 

 

These Guidelines fill a significant gap in international law standards, and reflect the weight of expert opinion of how some of the most vulnerable people on earth should be treated under international human rights law.

The Guidelines are an invaluable contribution to the growing awareness of the plight of stateless people in detention. They set out compellingly how international law requires greater sensitivity to the needs of stateless people. 

The launch of the Guidelines will be followed by a drinks reception. 

For directions to the venue and accessibility information, please click here. 

We look forward to welcoming you at the launch. RSVP to events@equalrightstrust.org at your earliest convenience to guarantee your participation as spaces are limited.