Statelessness and Dignified Citizenship Coalition – Asia Pacific

The Statelessness and Dignified Citizenship Coalition – Asia Pacific (SDCC-AP) is a regional civil society network that works to end statelessness and promote equal citizenship rights across Asia Pacific. It is a coalition of organizations, activists, and people with lived experience of statelessness. The coalition builds solidarity, strengthens advocacy, and creates lasting change for dignified citizenship. Its mission is to collaborate respectfully and in solidarity to catalyse regional action to address statelessness and promote equal nationality and dignified citizenship. Its vision is a region where no person is stateless and each person can exercise the right to equal nationality and live with dignity. The coalition pursues three main goals: strengthening solidarity among civil society organisations and activists working on statelessness and the right to equal nationality; supporting global, regional, national, and local advocacy initiatives on the right to equal nationality, dignified citizenship, and addressing statelessness; and enhancing awareness of the statelessness problem and efforts to address it. SDCC-AP is governed by a seven-member Steering Committee representing all five sub-regions of Asia Pacific. The Steering Committee was elected in February 2026 with a two-year mandate. The coalition maintains policies including a constitution, safeguarding policy, conflict of interest policy, and a Lived Experience Fellowship Guideline. It is open to new members and describes itself as a growing movement.

The formation of the Statelessness and Dignified Citizenship Coalition – Asia Pacific (SDCC-AP) began in 2022. In April 2022, UNHCR and Nationality For All (NFA) co-organized a Regional Consultation on Statelessness with 19 civil society organizations across Asia-Pacific, featuring panel discussions and advocacy from affected communities. NFA then conducted a risk assessment with experts and CSOs to identify risks, challenges, and opportunities in forming a regional coalition on statelessness in Asia-Pacific. In November 2022, a Regional CSO Consultation was held in Bangkok with 18 CSOs and 7 Advisory Group members to discuss forming a regional alliance; key areas of work and next steps for the coalition were identified. In May 2023, a Regional Consultation in Kathmandu with 32 CSOs and 4 Advisory Group members focused on naming, values, and structure of the Coalition. Three working groups were formed, and CSOs officially became Founding Members. Working groups held discussions and convened general meetings, adopting the name "Statelessness and Dignified Citizenship Coalition – Asia Pacific (SDCC-AP)" on July 27, 2023, with NFA as Secretariat. The structure was finalized on January 29, 2024, with a Steering Committee confirmed on February 15, 2024. The coalition was launched on February 26, 2024, during the Regional Stocktaking Session in Kuala Lumpur, marking a key step in addressing statelessness. The event featured a video, speeches by Steering Committee members Tahera Hassan and Azizbek Ashurov, and a panel discussion. Since its launch, SDCC-AP has continued to build its structures and activities. In 2024, it co-organized a Peer Learning Exchange on Community Paralegals and Citizenship Rights in Kuala Lumpur from November 11–15, and participated in the first Global Alliance Regional Network Lab in Geneva, Switzerland on 15–16 October 2024. In 2025, the Steering Committee formed sub-groups to strengthen participation and accountability. A new Steering Committee was elected in February 2026 with a two-year mandate, and the coalition announced a vacancy for a Coalition Coordinator in March 2026.

• UNHCR and NFA co-organized a Regional Consultation on Statelessness with 19 CSOs across Asia-Pacific.

• Regional CSO Consultation held in Bangkok with 18 CSOs and 7 Advisory Group members to discuss forming a regional alliance.

• Regional consultation in Kathmandu with 32 CSOs and 4 Advisory Group members focused on naming, values, and structure; three working groups formed and CSOs became Founding Members.

• The name "Statelessness and Dignified Citizenship Coalition – Asia Pacific (SDCC-AP)" was adopted, with NFA as Secretariat.

• The structure of the coalition was finalized.

• A Steering Committee was confirmed.

• SDCC-AP was launched during the Regional Stocktaking Session in Kuala Lumpur.

• First Global Alliance Regional Network Lab held in Geneva, Switzerland on 15–16 October 2024.

• Peer Learning Exchange on Community Paralegals and Citizenship Rights held in Kuala Lumpur on November 11–15, 2024.

• Formation of sub-groups by the Steering Committee to strengthen participation and accountability.

• Steering Committee elected with a two-year mandate.

• Vacancy announcement for Coalition Coordinator.

Regional civil society coalition for statelessness and equal nationality rights in Asia Pacific.

1. 1Statelessness and Dignified Citizenship Coalition Asia Pacificsdcc-ap.org
2. 2History of SDCCsdcc-ap.org
3. 3About Ussdcc-ap.org
4. 4Our Policiessdcc-ap.org
5. 5Wikidata entrywikidata.org