The problem of statelessness in national and international law

 Inaugural speech of Mr. Octavian Mohorea, National Legal Councilor, UNHCR in R. Moldova, presented at the international scientific-practical Conference with the theme Statelessness institution in national and international law through the process of adjusting the local legal framework to the European Union standards, which conducted his works in the Free International University of Moldova.  

Ladies and gentleman,

For the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) is a great honor to be here, at the Free International University of Moldova, and to participate in the works of this annual conference.

First of all allow me to thank the administration of ULIM for the invitation and development of the partnership between UNHCR and ULIM. Your University was the first educational institution in the country which introduced into the curriculum the e refugees law course and also was partner in the regional project of local integration of refugees.

One of the aims of our Agency in Moldova is to protect persons under the UNHCR mandate and to enhance the capacity of the competent authorities, of the judiciary system and social society, and in this regard we are happy that we can provide the necessary support, including academic environment. 

Also I thank organizers for the fact that they choose the statelessness field as topic for this conference. “Every person has the right to a citizenship”, thus sounded one of the articles from the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. However, statelessness remains a global phenomenon which affects 12 millions of people all over the world. Because of the lack of citizenship, many stateless persons are discriminated, marginalized and can’t benefit of many political, civil, economical and social rights. Unfortunately, such persons, who need help from authorities and support from the local community, exists in Republic of Moldova. 

To solve the problem of stateless persons, including in the Republic of Moldova, UNHCR promotes the accession to both Conventions of UN on statelessness and supports authorities to adopt a national legislation in accordance with the international standards.

The latest achievement in this regard took place yesterday, when the Moldovan Parliament adopted the law on the accession of the Republic of Moldova to the 1961 Convention on the reduction of statelessness cases, and the 1954 Convention on stateless persons status at the moment is considered in the parliamentary committees.  

Hopefully, in the near future, Moldova will accede to these Conventions and will solve the problem of statelessness in the country.


Thank you.