The Government of Costa Rica joins the Evaluation and Follow-Up Mechanism "Towards Zero Statelessness"

The Government of Costa Rica has become the second State in the region to join the Evaluation and Follow-up Mechanism "Towards Zero Statelessness". This is a further step by the Government of Costa Rica towards the regional goal of making the Americas the first region in the world to eradicate statelessness before 2024.

The United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) proposes this tool to interested countries in Latin America and the Caribbean to support their progress´ evaluation and also to acknowledge those countries that have achieved important progress in the implementation of the actions contained in the “Eradicating Statelessness” programme of the Brazil Plan of Action.

The year 2019 will mark the midpoint of the UNHCR Campaign #IBELONG, with a view to eradicating statelessness in the world. Therefore, this is a key moment for UNHCR and other relevant actors to assess the achievements of the Campaign and to identify what needs to be done to achieve its goals and objectives. For this purpose, a High Level Segment on Statelessness will be held on October 7 in Geneva, within the framework of the UNHCR Executive Committee. This is an important opportunity to evaluate the achievements and good practices carried out to date, and to ensure concrete and determined pledges towards the eradication of statelessness by the year 2024.

UNHCR welcomes the initiative of the Government of Costa Rica to join this mechanism and to continue its efforts towards the eradication of statelessness in accordance with the international commitments contained in the Global Action Plan to End Statelessness: 2014-2024 and the Brazil Declaration and Plan of Action during these last years.