Wednesday 18 March 17:30 - 19:30

Ashurst
London Fruit & Wool Exchange
1 Duval Square
London
E1 6PW

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The right to nationality in the era of Rohingya genocide and ISIS fighters

Charity & Causes

Launching a Year of Action Against Citizenship Stripping

Post WWII, citizenship stripping was no longer seen as democratic and the prohibition of arbitrary deprivation of nationality became anchored in international human rights law. Today, while most states resist increasing these powers, the policy is regaining traction and denationalisation is a tool in active use across a range of contexts. How do we understand the right to a nationality in the era of Rohingya genocide, mass denationalisation in Assam, the silencing of human rights defenders through withdrawal of citizenship and deprivation of nationality of ISIS fighters? What exactly are States’ international obligations, what impact is the measure actually having and what action is needed to protect against the further erosion of the institution of citizenship – a cornerstone of inclusive societies?

These are some of the questions that will be unpacked in this event, convened by the Institute on Statelessness and Inclusion, Open Society Justice Initiative, and Ashurst, with speakers from the fields of policy, practice, research and activism. The event marks the launch of an international Year of Action Against Citizenship Stripping and celebrates the publication of a new set of important resources on this issue: Principles on Deprivation of Nationality as a National Security Measure and accompanying Commentary; ISI’s latest World’s Stateless Report with a thematic focus on arbitrary deprivation of nationality which includes a series of reflections on this measure from 12 different disciplines; and Shapeless Shapes, a collaborative arts and advocacy project that challenges prevailing narratives and highlights activism around the instrumentalisation of citizenship.

The event will be introduced and moderated by Joshua Castellino, Executive Director of Minority Rights Group. Speakers include:

  • Tendayi Achiume, UN Special Rapporteur on contemporary forms of racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance
  • Jawad Fairooz, former Bahraini Member of Parliament and chair of Salam for Democracy and Human Rights Organization (SALAM DHR)
  • Hanna Kim, Soros Equality Fellow, non-resident fellow at the Hutchins Center for African & African American Research, and alumna at the Harvard Graduate School of Design
  • Amanda Weston, Barrister, Garden Court Chambers
  • Laura Bingham, Senior Managing Legal Officer for Equality and Inclusion, Open Society Justice Initiative
  • Amal de Chickera, Co-Director of the Institute on Statelessness and Inclusion

The event will be followed by a drinks reception.

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