About European network on statelessness
The European Network on Statelessness (ENS) is a non-governmental organisation that aims to address the issue of statelessness in Europe. With over 500,000 people living in Europe who are stateless, ENS recognises the urgent need to provide support and advocacy for this vulnerable group.
Statelessness is a complex issue that affects individuals and families across Europe. It can arise from a variety of factors, including gaps in nationality laws, conflicts between different legal systems, and discrimination against certain groups. Stateless people often face significant challenges in accessing basic rights such as education, healthcare, employment and housing.
ENS works to raise awareness about statelessness among policymakers and the general public. Through research and advocacy efforts, ENS seeks to promote legal reforms that will help prevent statelessness from occurring in the first place. Additionally, ENS provides direct support to individuals who are affected by statelessness through its network of member organisations across Europe.
One of ENS's key priorities is ensuring that every child born in Europe has access to citizenship. This involves working with governments to reform their nationality laws so that they do not discriminate against certain groups or leave gaps that can lead to statelessness. ENS also advocates for greater protection for refugees and asylum seekers who may be at risk of becoming stateless due to changes in their country of origin's nationality laws.
Another important aspect of ENS's work is promoting the rights of existing stateless populations across Europe. This includes advocating for access to basic services such as healthcare and education as well as working towards solutions such as naturalisation or other forms of legal recognition.
In addition to its advocacy work on behalf of stateless people across Europe, ENS also engages with international bodies such as the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) and the Council of Europe on issues related to nationality law reform and protection for refugees.
Overall, the European Network on Statelessness plays a vital role in addressing the issue of statelessness in Europe. Through its research, advocacy and direct support efforts, ENS is working towards a future where every individual has access to citizenship and the basic rights that come with it.