February 2026, Europe: Council of Europe publishes Compendium on Access to Nationality for Stateless Children

The European Committee on Legal Co-operation (CDCJ) of the Council of Europe has published the Compendium of Promising Practices on Access to Nationality for Stateless Children, adopted at its 105th plenary meeting (18-20 November 2025). Prepared on the basis of responses from 29 member states, the compendium aims to inspire reforms that prevent and reduce child statelessness across Europe.

Child statelessness continues to undermine children’s right to a legal identity, with far-reaching consequences for their access to education, healthcare, legal protection and housing. The publication identifies promising legal and administrative practices in four key areas: safeguards in nationality laws to prevent statelessness at birth; child-friendly nationality and statelessness determination procedures, including legal aid and guardianship; accessible and flexible birth registration processes; and awareness-raising and training of relevant actors.

By highlighting national examples, the compendium offers practical guidance to ensure that children who would otherwise be stateless can access nationality promptly and effectively. It also contributes to the Council of Europe Strategy for the Rights of the Child (2022-2027) and supports the Global Alliance to End Statelessness launched by UNHCR in 2024.

CHIP welcomes this important resource, which provides actionable approaches to strengthen children’s right to identity and prevent statelessness in Europe and beyond.

Source : https://www.coe.int/en/web/cdcj/-/publication-of-the-compendium-of-promising-practices-on-access-to-nationality-for-stateless-children