 Historical migration: Historical migration is a common factor uniting the situation of a number of stateless minorities today. In many cases, this historical migration was forced. Colonial powers moved indigenous populations within and between regions for labour and agricultural purposes. In other cases, historical migration was more voluntary in nature. Whatever the reason for the migration, many of these groups remained for generations in the countries they migrated to, gradually losing their ties with their countries of origin. In many cases, upon decolonisation or independence of their countries of long-term residence, many of these groups were regarded as non-indigenous outsiders and were excluded from citizenship under the nationality law of the newly independent State.  Irregular migration: Irregular migration can leave children and adults at high risk of statelessness. Frequently undocumented, migrants in an irregular situation may shy away from applying for documentation in the countries in which they live and work for fear of being identified, punished or deported. Children of irregular migrants may not be registered at birth, again owing to concerns around being sanctioned, or because of exclusionary laws, policies or practices, particularly towards minority groups. [Examples of risks of statelessness arising amongst migrants from minority groups in an irregular situation, include ethnic Vietnamese in Viet Nam and Cambodia, and persons of Indonesian descent in the Philippines].  Although the topic of this panel is ‘statelessness resulting from conflicts, forced population movements and migration’, statelessness can equally be a root cause of conflict, forced displacement and migration. Highlight that in this vein, the Global Compact on Refugees, which is to be validated by the General Assembly, recognizes that statelessness may be both a cause and consequence of refugee movements.  Where statelessness is a cause, minority groups tend to be disproportionately represented as they are usually the ones that bear the brunt of the discrimination, marginalisation and denial of basic rights that accompany the condition of being stateless.  UNHCR’s #IBelong Campaign to End Statelessness, and the Global Compact on Refugees, are focused on finding solutions to prevent statelessness both as a cause and a consequence of conflict, forced displacement and migration. UNHCR’s Global Action Plan calls on States, with the assistance of the international community to implement 10 Actions, which if fully implemented by all States, could lead to the eradication of statelessness, including amongst minorities.  These Actions include: o o o o Resolving existing protracted situations of statelessness which left unaddressed could contribute to conflict and forced displacement. Preventing childhood statelessness through the establishment of safeguards in nationality laws. Such safeguards allow children of parents who are stateless or who are unable to pass on their nationality to acquire a nationality. Universal implementation of this safeguard could wipe out statelessness within a generation. Identifying and protecting stateless persons who are in a migratory context through the establishment of a statelessness determination procedure that allows stateless persons to access basic rights and a pathway to facilitated naturalisation. Preventing statelessness by ensuring universal birth registration and access to national identity documentation with those who have an entitlement to it, as minority