UCB launches campaign to eliminate statelessness within 10 years

United Colours of Benetton recently unveiled the'I Belong' campaign to spread the message and eliminate statelessness across the globe. At least 10 million people worldwide are currently stateless and a baby is born stateless every 10 minutes. Not allowed a nationality, they are often denied the rights and services that countries normally offer their citizens. Most situations of statelessness are a direct consequence of discrimination based on ethnicity, religion or gender. Twenty-seven countries at present deny women the right to pass their nationality on to their children on an equal basis with men, a situation that can create chains of statelessness that span generations. The strong visuals of the campaign and an engaging online call to action that asks the public to sign an open letter to end statelessness form the creative backbone to this ambitious effort. Sanjeev Mohanty, Managing Director, UCB said, "United Colors of Benetton has created a beautiful and dynamic interactive map that will document the online support for the "I Belong” campaign. All these visual, digital and online tools will allow UNHCR and campaign supporters to spread the message and galvanise support to end statelessness worldwide.

António Guterres, High Commissioner for Refugees said, "It is an unacceptable tragedy that millions of people are living without a nationality. Unlike many other problems facing the world today, resolving statelessness is fully within our reach. We now have the opportunity, as never before, to tackle this injustice. With the United Colors of Benetton's excellent support, I hope this campaign will reach millions and gain much-needed public support to end statelessness.”