On 28 September 1954, in New York, the UN Conference on the Status of Stateless Persons adopts the Convention relating to the Status of Stateless Persons — the multilateral treaty protecting persons not considered nationals by any state.

The convention defines a stateless person, accords treatment at least equal to aliens generally regarding work, property and association, and national treatment for education, public relief and social security. States issue identity and travel documents; expulsion is limited; naturalisation is to be facilitated.

The depositary is the UN Secretary-General. Entry into force: 6 June 1960. About 99 parties. The text appears in UNTS vol. 360 (No. 5158).

It complements the 1951 Refugee Convention, which did not cover all stateless persons.

For international personal status law, 28 September 1954 marks the New York adoption.

The document is available in the UN Treaty Collection and OHCHR.

The Convention relating to the Status of Stateless Persons of 28 September 1954 remains the stateless-protection milestone.

Image: UN / New York; Wikimedia Commons. Cropped to 16:9.

Source consulted: Convention Relating to the Status of Stateless Persons. Treaty text: UN Treaty Collection — Stateless Persons 1954.