AGS International Graduate Student Conference 2021 |
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AGS International Graduate Student Conference 2021 Statelessness in International Relations: Causes, Consequences & Covid-19 Event date: Friday, April 30, 2021 - 2:00 pm to 6:00 pm CET Note: Following the cancellation of the AGS 2020 conference due to the Covid-19 pandemic, the 2021 edition will cover the same theme and feature the same presenters as were originally planned in 2020, while integrating in the presentations and discussions the new challenges and questions raised by the pandemic.
Theme and objectives A stateless person, according to Article 1 of the 1954 Convention relating to the Status of Stateless Persons “is not considered a citizen by any state under its laws.” Most of us around the globe may take for granted our “jus soli” (right of soil,) but there are over 10 million stateless people around the world who have no guarantee of rights, liberties or belonging. Moreover, their children will likely inherit the same condition of living without legal identity and access to everyday socioeconomic basics further perpetuating a vicious cycle which will inevitably lead to a global crisis. Statelessness, “a profound violation of an individual’s human rights,” can occur for several reasons including discrimination against a particular ethnic or religious group, on the basis of gender, due to the emergence of new States, as a result of territory-transfers between existing States, gaps in nationality laws. Whatever the cause may be, statelessness has serious consequences for people affected by it in almost every region of the world. Earl Warren, late US Supreme Court Justice called Statelessness “a form of punishment more primitive than torture.” Created in a moment in history, statelessness can affect generations to follow if action is not taken for these disenfranchised people. Statelessness, however, can also be resolved in a single moment. The # IBelong Campaign of the UNHCR seeks to end statelessness by 2024 although solutions to this daunting issue of marginalization and invisibility remain complex and far from fulfilment. The painful politics of “non-belonging” continues. In an attempt to discuss the various causes, consequences and solutions of statelessness, this one-day conference will bring together inquisitive minds - graduate, postgraduate, senior undergraduate students, practitioners (from NGOs, government agencies and IGOs) and concerned citizens of the world to brainstorm the issue from multiple angles - political, economic, social, cultural, legal and philosophical. Attendance is free and open to all. |
