As we mark International Women’s Day 2025 and the 30th anniversary of the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action, Equality Now, the Global Campaign for Equal Nationality Rights, the Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU), the UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) and UN Women are calling for expedited action to end gender discrimination in nationality laws and recommit to efforts to achieve gender-equal nationality rights around the globe.
Despite an agreement by governments in the Beijing Declaration to reform laws and ensure women’s equality – reiterated in the Pact for the Future nearly 30 years later in September 2024 – over 40 countries still have nationality laws that deny women the equal right to confer nationality on children or spouses, or to acquire, change or retain their nationality. In 24 countries, women lack the right to confer nationality on their children on an equal basis with men. “Central to the realization of the full rights of all women and girls is Article 9 of the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women, which sets out the equal right to nationality. This is a fundamental human right which is paramount to women’s status as citizens and as members of their own families. When a State allows such inequality, it is implicitly endorsing the notion that women are inferior and possess second-class citizenship,” notes Sofia Calltorp, Director of the Geneva Office and Chief of Humanitarian Action, UN Women.
We stand in solidarity with the many impacted mothers, children and their families, who are calling for reforms without delay. Those impacted are experiencing wide-ranging harms and human rights violations, including obstacles to accessing education, healthcare, employment, inheritance, property rights, freedom of movement and family unity. Gender-discriminatory nationality laws are a leading cause of statelessness and also contribute to gender-based violence, including child marriage and human trafficking.
Ruvendrini Menikdiwela, Assistant High Commissioner for Protection at UNHCR, underscores the multi-faceted harm caused by discriminatory nationality laws, while highlighting positive developments: “When women can’t pass their nationality on their children like men can, it can lead to statelessness, impacting families and communities for generations. But there’s hope! Many countries have reformed their laws to ensure equal nationality rights. Let’s unite to end gender discrimination in nationality laws. It’s time to consign this injustice to history — once and for all.”
There has been progress in ending gender discrimination in nationality laws, with 75% of countries today upholding gender-equal nationality laws. Since the launch of the Global Campaign for Equal Nationality Rights in 2014, eighteen countries have enacted reforms to advance gender-equal nationality rights. Catherine Harrington, the Campaign Manager of the Global Campaign, notes that “Upholding the principle of equal citizenship requires nationality laws that treat women and men as equals. Ending gender discrimination in nationality laws is not only the right thing to do, but the smart thing to do. Gender-equal nationality laws support sustainable development, children’s rights and well-being , and gender equality – all of which benefit society as a whole.”
In December 2024, we were heartened to hear champions from governments, parliaments and civil society from fifteen countries, at the Global Multistakeholder Summit on Advancing Gender Equality in Nationality Laws, commit to mobilize action where reform is still needed. “We cannot wait for our children to grow up and become grandparents for gender equality to be part of life. We need to work steadfastly to make sure that women and men who today don’t have access to nationality can recover their full rights as human beings. We want parliaments to be more robust in making legislative reforms that would end gender discrimination when it comes to nationality,” says Martin Chungong, IPU Secretary General.
Fortunately, upholding citizens’ equal nationality rights not only benefits countless impacted families, but strengthens societies as a whole by fostering inclusive, sustainable development and human security. “Equality in nationality and citizenship laws is essential to improving everyone’s lives and achieving the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) by 2030, ensuring ‘no one is left behind’. In particular, realizing SDGs 5 (gender equality), 10 (reduced inequalities) and 16 (peace, justice and strong institutions), as well as 1 (end to poverty), 2 (zero hunger), 3 (good health and well-being), 4 (quality education), 8 (decent work and economic growth) and 11 (sustainable cities and communities) cannot happen without women and men having equal nationality rights,” says Antonia Kirkland, Global Lead of Legal Equality and Access to Justice at Equality Now.
Thirty years after the adoption of the Beijing Declaration, it is time for all nationality laws to uphold women’s status as equal citizens by ensuring gender-equal nationality rights.
We look forward to our continued collaboration with diverse stakeholders committed to advancing gender equality to realize a world with equal nationality laws for all citizens.