Moroke Sekoboto
MINISTER of Local Government and Chieftainship, Lebona Lephema, has reaffirmed Lesotho’s commitment to the eradication of statelessness, as outlined in the 1954 United Nations Convention on the Status of Stateless Persons and the 1961 Convention on the Reduction of Statelessness.
A stateless person is someone who, under national laws, does not enjoy citizenship in any country.
Mr Lephema said, in an era marked by geopolitical tensions, increased migration flows, climate change, terrorism, and economic disruptions, stateless persons are disproportionately affected and continue to suffer the consequences of these global challenges.
Speaking at the 75th Executive Committee Meeting (ExCom) of the United Nations High Commissioner’s Programme in Geneva, Switzerland, last week, Mr Lephema underscored Lesotho’s commitment to addressing statelessness.
He announced the government’s intention to join the Global Alliance to End Statelessness.
“These Conventions represent a profound milestone, outlining the measures that states and the international community should take to provide nationality to stateless individuals and to prevent new cases of statelessness from arising,” Mr Lephema said.
Mr Lephema also expressed Lesotho’s commitment to the ongoing “I Belong Campaign” and shared that the country is in the process of enacting the Immigration and Citizenship Act, which will repeal the Aliens Control Act of 1966. This new legislation aims to provide nationality to children born or found in Lesotho who would otherwise be stateless.
He said the government had engaged collaborative efforts to address statelessness, noting partnerships with organizations such as the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees, the South African Multi-Country Office, the Transformation Resource Centre, the Lesotho Catholic Commission for Peace and Justice, and Skillshare.
“This collaborative approach demonstrates Lesotho’s dedication to identifying, determining, and protecting stateless persons, as well as reducing statelessness overall. In line with Sustainable Development Goal 16.9 and the spirit of the 2030 Agenda to leave no one behind, Lesotho has made significant progress through its National Identity and Civil Registry, ensuring that legal identity is provided for all, including through birth registration,” Mr Lephema added.
Additionally, the government is undertaking a qualitative study to explore durable solutions and better understand the situation of groups and individuals at risk of statelessness.
Mr Lephema noted the government’s efforts in a mass mobile registration campaign for citizens, migrants with regular status, and refugees into the National Population Register. However, he acknowledged the challenge of acquiring evidence-based data on statelessness and called for improved collaboration and information sharing among stakeholders to implement the government’s migration agenda, including issues related to statelessness.
He also pointed out the hardships faced by migrants in irregular situations, emphasising their vulnerability to human rights violations. Lesotho, he said, would appreciate the support of the international community in conducting a study to inform evidence-based policies to tackle statelessness and advocate for the inclusion of at-risk migrants, regardless of their migratory status.
“It is our collective responsibility to work towards ending statelessness globally. My delegation firmly believes that states and non-state actors must apply an intersectional framework to address the challenges faced by stateless persons. Such an approach has the potential to transform governance by dismantling exclusionary of citizenship rooted in patriarchy and other forms of discrimination,” he said.
Mr Lephema also stressed the importance of the 1954 and 1961 Conventions in efforts to combat statelessness. He reaffirmed Lesotho’s unwavering commitment to the United Nations and regional conventions and protocols aimed at eradicating statelessness and protecting the lives of refugees, stateless persons, and internally displaced individuals.
