Category 7

Statelessness

The condition of being not recognized as a citizen by any country.

Universal Declaration of Human Rights

A 1948 United Nations document that enumerated basic rights for all people, including the right to a nationality.

Discrimination

Unjust treatment of different categories of people, often based on race, gender, or nationality.

Citizenship

The status of being a legally recognized subject or national of a state.

Kurdish Genocide

Saddam Hussein's campaign against the Kurds in Iraq during the 1980s, which included mass killings and chemical attacks.

Rohingya

A Muslim ethnic minority in Myanmar that has faced statelessness and discrimination due to citizenship laws.

Stateless Population

An estimated 4.3 million people worldwide, lacking citizenship in any country.

Gender-Based Citizenship Laws

Laws that allow only one parent, usually the father, to confer citizenship to their children.

Discriminatory Citizenship Laws

Laws that favor specific ethnic or racial groups over others in terms of citizenship.

Sykes-Picot Agreement

The 1916 treaty that divided the Middle East into British and French spheres of influence.

Treaty of Sevres

The 1920 treaty that initially proposed a Kurdish state after the dissolution of the Ottoman Empire.

Treaty of Lausanne

The 1923 treaty that replaced Sevres, omitting any mention of a Kurdish state.

Kurdistan

A proposed national homeland for the Kurdish people, which has never been fully realized.

Peshmerga

The military forces of the autonomous Kurdistan Region in Iraq.

People's Protection Units (YPG)

A Kurdish militia in Syria engaged in fighting against ISIS.

PKK (Kurdistan Workers' Party)

A Kurdish militant political organization based in Turkey and Iraq, seeking greater autonomy for Kurds.

Kurdish Democratic Union Party (PYD)

A political party in Syria representing Kurdish interests.

Right to a Nationality

The principle that every individual has the entitlement to belong to a nation.

Displaced Persons

Individuals forced to leave their homes, especially due to conflict or persecution.

Stateless Children

Children born to stateless parents who also lack citizenship rights.

Syrian Civil War

An ongoing conflict that has significantly impacted the Kurdish population in Syria.

Kurdish Autonomy

The pursuit of self-governance and independence by the Kurdish people in various countries.

Census of 1962 (Syria)

A Syrian census that rendered around 120,000 Kurds stateless.

Humanitarian Crisis

A situation that threatens the health, safety, or well-being of a large group of people.

Al-Anfal Campaign

A genocidal operation against Kurds in Iraq led by Saddam Hussein during the 1980s.

Kurdish Nationalism

A political and cultural movement advocating for Kurdish rights and recognition.

Blood Feud

A prolonged and often violent conflict between families or communities.

Cultural and Political Autonomy

Limited self-governance in cultural and political matters while remaining part of a larger country.

Sovereignty

The authority of a state to govern itself or another state.

Ethnic Cleansing

The intentional and systematic removal or extermination of an ethnic group from a particular area.

U.S. Invasion of Iraq (2003)

A military action that significantly changed the Kurdish political landscape in Iraq.

Refugee

A person who has been forced to leave their country due to persecution, war, or violence.

Kirkuk

A city in Iraq, historically significant to both Kurds and Arabs, coveted for its oil resources.

Eurasian Economic Union

A political and economic union of several states located in Eastern Europe, Western, and Central Asia.

Non-Aggression Pact

An agreement between countries to refrain from military conflict against each other.

Turkish-Kurdish Conflict

The armed struggle and tensions between the Turkish state and its Kurdish population.

Stability and Security in the Region

Maintaining political and social order, often sought through treaties and agreements.

Military Coup

The overthrow of a government, often carried out by the military.

Borders Shift

Changes in the territorial boundaries of countries due to conflict, treaties, or other factors.

Human Rights Violations

Actions that infringe upon the basic rights and freedoms entitled to individuals.

UN Conventions on Statelessness

International agreements aimed at protecting the rights of stateless persons.

Consequences of Statelessness

Lack of access to education, healthcare, employment, and legal protection faced by stateless individuals.

International Aid Organizations

Entities that provide support and humanitarian assistance to affected populations globally.

Political Refugees

Individuals who flee their country due to political persecution and seek asylum elsewhere.

Indigenous Peoples

Ethnic groups who are the original inhabitants of a particular region or territory.