- A UN agency welcomed the recent SC decision that recognized the rights of foundlings
- The SC ruled that Sen. Grace Poe, a foundling, is eligible to be President as a natural Filipino
- There are currently 10 million people worldwide who are stateless or do not have a nationality
The United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) office in the Philippines welcomed the recent decision by the Supreme Court (SC) which ruled that foundlings are indeed natural-born citizens of the country; in the landmark case involving Senator Grace Poe.
The high court ruled that Poe, herself a foundling who was abandoned in the Jaro Cathedral in Iloilo, was a natural-born citizen, and thus, is eligible to run for President.
In praising the SC decision, the UNHCR lauded the country’s “humanitarian tradition” of supporting foundlings and stateless children.
“We welcome this development to recognize foundlings as citizens of the Philippines. The country has a strong humanitarian tradition of international protection in support of those at risk of being stateless. The Philippines was the first country in the Southeast Asia to become party to the 1954 Convention on the Status of Stateless Persons, which defines who is considered stateless and establishes minimum standards of treatment,” UNHCR Representative in the Philippines Bernard Kerblat told ABS-CBN News in a statement.
The UN agency also praised the country, calling it a “shining example of humanitarianism,” for its efforts in abiding to the international framework that affords every person the right to a nationality and prevents statelessness.
“This significant decision from the Supreme Court is an important step in the country’s history and once again, the Philippines is a shining example of humanitarianism in taking concrete steps to reduce statelessness in the region. It sets a positive example that member states may wish to follow,” the UNHCR said.
It is estimated that there are currently 10 million individuals around the world without a clear nationality. This translates to one child born stateless every 10 minutes.
According to the UN, stateless individuals, including foundlings, are considered to be a vulnerable sector that are often denied basic rights, such as the freedom of movement, access to education, social services, employment, and the right to own property.
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