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Bringing Stateless "Out of the Shadows"
Tue, 10/25/2011 - 14:22Today, leaders from government, civil society, and the UN gathered at the US Institute of Peace to explore statelessness and its impact on women worldwide. The Institute's sparkling new headquarters played host to an insightful and inspiring discussion - a fitting kick-off for a week full of stateless advocacy here at RI.
International Women’s Day: A Stateless Woman’s Story
Tue, 03/08/2011 - 12:00
On International Women’s Day we celebrate women’s achievements and we push for further progress towards real equality. But a large group of women around the world are being shut out of enjoying any progress – women who have no citizenship of any country. Their statelessness means that no government protects their rights.
In Malaysia last week I met with Gultaz, who was 9 months pregnant and very scared. Her story illustrates the type of problems that many stateless women around the world face, forced to hide themselves away and unable to advance in their lives.
In Malaysia last week I met with Gultaz, who was 9 months pregnant and very scared. Her story illustrates the type of problems that many stateless women around the world face, forced to hide themselves away and unable to advance in their lives.
Biharis in Bangladesh: Inching Toward Integration
Thu, 04/08/2010 - 16:06
Seven years ago a group of young Urdu-speakers claiming to be citizens of Bangladesh filed a petition to demand enrollment in the country’s list of voters. The government challenged their request, but the High Court determined they are "citizens of Bangladesh and their residence in the Geneva Camp, Mohammedpur, is not a bar to be enrolled as voters." Five years later, in May 2008, a landmark decision in the Supreme Court restored the citizenship rights of the so-called Urdu-speaking refugees and stateless people (also known as Biharis, or stranded Pakistanis) who had languished in
Burma: No Safe Place for Rohingya
Fri, 01/23/2009 - 01:00
Word is just getting out that for the past month, the government of Thailand has been engaging in reckless behavior towards Burmese Rohingya refugees. While the Thai government has never acknowledged the Rohingya as asylum seekers, they are now taking the extreme step of intentionally abandoning hundreds of them at a time in boats that they tow out to sea. Already, over 300 Rohingya are missing, with new reports coming out every few days of new groups that have been pushed out by the Thai government.
Bangladesh: Poetry as a Bridge to Understanding
Thu, 10/30/2008 - 00:00In Bangladesh a Supreme Court decision this May recognized the right to citizenship for a formerly stateless population, the Bihar, an Urdu speaking minority.
Bangladesh is an extremely young country, formed only 37 years ago after a violent conflict to sever its ties with Pakistan, achieved independence and preserve its Bengali culture.
Refugees International (RI) advocates for lifesaving assistance and protection for displaced people and promotes solutions to displacement crises.
We are an independent organization, and do not accept any government or UN funding.
We are an independent organization, and do not accept any government or UN funding.