Skip to content 
Search

Latest Stories

Film star Cate Blanchett decries 'heartbreaking' plight of stateless

Film star Cate Blanchett urged the world to end the devastating plight of millions of people with no nationality on Monday (7), describing statelessness as a "heartbreaking" waste of human talent and potential.

The double Oscar-winner made the plea at a major intergovernmental meeting in Geneva aimed at accelerating a global campaign to eradicate statelessness - an issue she admitted she was unaware of until relatively recently.


"Statelessness has a devastating impact on millions of people around the world. They experience marginalisation and exclusion from cradle to grave ... It's total invisibility," she told the media afterwards.

Stateless people are often denied education and medical care, cannot travel, open a bank account, marry or even get a death certificate when they die, she said.

Almost every country is represented at the meeting, which marks the midway point in a decade-long campaign to end statelessness called #Ibelong.

The Hollywood star held up her own passport, credit card and Medicare card as she urged ministers and government officials to imagine how difficult life would be if they had no documents.

"It's a condition of invisibility and it lurks in the margins and in the shadows," she said. "Stateless people are unseen and unheard."

Blanchett, a UNHCR goodwill ambassador, interviewed activist Maha Mamo, who spent 30 years as a stateless person in Lebanon before acquiring Brazilian citizenship last year.

"Her personal story absolutely blew me away," the actress said. "(She's) an extraordinary beacon of hope."

Mamo told delegates how her hopes of studying medicine and joining a Lebanese basketball team were crushed because she had no papers, and how she had lived in constant fear of checkpoints.

TRAGIC WASTE

Blanchett said she had been particularly moved by the "inhumane and heartbreaking" situation of a nine-year-old she had met in Lebanon who wanted to be a doctor.

Although her mother was Lebanese, the girl had inherited her father's statelessness, making it unlikely she could stay in school.

"Apart from the moral responsibility we have to solve this problem, it's such a waste of human capital. I found it a tragedy," Blanchett said.

Lebanon is among 25 countries with discriminatory laws that prevent or limit women passing their nationality to their children - a major cause of statelessness.

The actress praised Sierra Leone and Madagascar for scrapping similar laws.

The world's biggest stateless population are the Rohingya, hundreds of thousands of whom have sought safety in Bangladesh after fleeing Myanmar which does not recognise them as citizens.

Blanchett, who visited Bangladesh last year, said the Rohingya showed how a local problem could escalate over decades to become an international crisis.

The UNHCR hopes the film star's support for the #Ibelong campaign will boost low public awareness around statelessness.

But the actress said she was ashamed to say that when the UNHCR first approached her she did not even know such a problem existed, let alone that millions were affected.

Blanchett appealed to all nations to give stateless people "their basic human right to belong", adding that solutions were often straightforward.

"It is a man-made problem and it is solvable," she added.

UNHCR chief Filippo Grandi said they had already received more than 170 pledges of action before the meeting.

But he warned that "damaging forms of nationalism" and the "manipulation of anti-refugee and migrant sentiment" were putting progress at risk.

No one knows how many stateless people there are because less than half of countries have data. The UNHCR has previously estimated the total at 10 million.

More For You

Southport

Floral tributes left by members of the public are seen following the fatal knife attack on three young girls in July in Southport.

Reuters

Public inquiry begins into Southport girls' murders

A PUBLIC inquiry begins on Tuesday into the murders of three young girls at a Taylor Swift-themed dance event in Southport last year.

The inquiry will examine whether the attack could have been prevented and how future incidents might be avoided.

Keep ReadingShow less
Starmer-Getty

Starmer is facing a Labour backbench revolt over plans to reform special needs support in schools without guaranteeing existing legal rights. (Photo: Getty Images)

Getty Images)

Starmer faces Labour pushback over SEND reform plans

KEIR STARMER is facing a backlash from Labour MPs over plans to reform special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) support, after ministers stopped short of guaranteeing legal rights for parents.

Education Secretary Bridget Phillipson said the government was committed to reforming the current system, which costs £12 billion a year. However, she did not confirm if legally enforceable rights, such as those provided by education, health and care plans (EHCPs), would remain.

Keep ReadingShow less
Heavy rain and thunderstorms hit London

Londoners faced a wet and stormy start to the week

iStock

Heavy rain and thunderstorms hit London before 30°C heatwave

Key points

  • Heavy rain and thunderstorms drench London at the start of the week
  • Temperatures set to rise with highs of 31°C expected by Thursday
  • Heatwave could be declared by Friday if warm conditions persist
  • Night-time temperatures to remain high, increasing discomfort
  • UV and pollen levels forecast to be very high across the south

Thunderstorms soak London before summer heat returns

Londoners faced a wet and stormy start to the week as heavy rain and overnight thunderstorms swept through the capital. Monday morning saw widespread downpours, leaving commuters reaching for umbrellas and Wimbledon ticket hopefuls queuing in ponchos.

The unsettled conditions followed a burst of thunderstorms on Sunday afternoon and continued into the early hours of Monday, prompting caution across the city. The Met Office has not issued a formal weather warning for thunderstorms, but conditions remain unstable.

Keep ReadingShow less
National Trust sets vision to heal
nature and engage more Asians

Lisa Nandy, Steve Reed, René Olivieri and Hilary McGrady at a National Trust event marking its 130th anniversary

National Trust sets vision to heal nature and engage more Asians

THE National Trust, which is seeking to broaden its appeal to British Asians, is marking its 130th anniversary with a renewed commitment to restoring nature and widening access under a 10-year strategy.

Its director-general, Hilary McGrady, also aims to inspire more people to get involved in caring for the country’s natural resources.

Keep ReadingShow less
 7/7 bombings

The King said the public should draw on the 'extraordinary courage and compassion' shown in response to the attacks. (Photo credit: X/@RoyalFamily)

Starmer and King Charles pay tribute on 20th anniversary of 7/7 bombings

PRIME MINISTER Keir Starmer and King Charles on Monday paid tribute to the unity shown in the aftermath of the 7 July bombings in London, as the country marked 20 years since the attacks.

On 7 July 2005, four Islamist extremists carried out suicide bombings at Aldgate Station, Edgware Road, King's Cross and Tavistock Square. The attacks killed 52 people and injured hundreds more.

Keep ReadingShow less