Central Asian Network on Statelessness Gathers in Almaty

The 7th meeting of the Central Asian Network on Statelessness took place at the UN Plaza in Almaty, Kazakhstan.

This meeting served as a platform for members of the Network and UNHCR to exchange information, experiences and best practices in reducing and preventing statelessness in Central Asia. Participants discussed further joint actions, aiming to eradicate statelessness issues in Central Asian countries and the region as a whole.

During the meeting, Network members were briefed about the establishment of the Global Statelessness Alliance, discussing the possibility of participating in it, which is a significant step in the Network’s development.

This year’s meeting of the Network was held on the eve of the Global Refugee Forum. One of the main agenda items was the development of pledges for the upcoming Forum on behalf of the Network. The pledges developed by the Network will be presented by the Network’s coordinator, Azizbek Ashurov, a 2019 Nansen Award laureate, at the Global Refugee Forum in Geneva in December of this year.

An important part of the meeting program was the discussion, development, and adoption of the Network’s Charter and its Strategic Plan for 2024-2026.

Also, during the meeting, new members were admitted to the Network, expanding its community and strengthening its mission. The new members include the Association of Legal Clinics of Kyrgyzstan, the Legal Clinic of KIMEP University, and the Society of International Human Rights Defenders from Uzbekistan.