Denmark may be violating the rights of 231 stateless children

Denmark may breach international conventions if a prolonged pause prevents up to 231 stateless children born in the country from obtaining Danish citizenship, legal experts have told DR. The warning comes as citizenship legislation remains stalled while the government considers new screening rules for applicants. In January, 72 stateless children born in Denmark had already met the requirements for citizenship and were included in a bill that would have granted it to them, according to documents obtained by DR. The bill later lapsed when the Danish parliamentary election was called. DR’s investigation found that as many as 231 stateless children born in Denmark could now be affected, including many whose cases have not yet been processed. Stateless children have special rights under international law Denmark is party to both the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child and the 1961 Convention on the Reduction of Statelessness. The Danish Ministry of Immigration and Integration states that people born stateless in Denmark are subject to special citizenship rules because of Denmark’s international obligations. The 1961 Convention requires states to provide nationality to people born on their territory who would otherwise remain stateless, either automatically at birth or through an application procedure … The post Denmark may be violating the rights of 231 stateless children appeared first on NordiskPost.