ISLAMABAD: The United Nation refugee agency has kicked off a global campaign to end the plight of at least 10 million stateless people by 2024, a move described by observers as "too optimistic".
A child is born stateless every 10 minutes, and over a third of the world's stateless population are children, according to the UNHCR, which launched the "I Belong" campaign, Al jazeera Reported.
South Africa's Nobel Peace Laureate Archbishop Desmond Tutu and Hollywood actress Angelina Jolie have backed the campaign, signing - along with UNHCR chief Antonio Guterres and celebrities - an open letter calling for "10 million signatures to change 10 million lives".
"Statelessness makes people feel like their very existence is a crime," Guterres said. "We have a historic opportunity to end the scourge of statelessness within 10 years, and give back hope to millions of people."
Others who have signed include Iranian Nobel Peace Laureate Shirin Ebadi, opera singer Barbara Hendricks, South African musician Hugh Masekela, Afghan-born novelist Khaled Hosseini, author of The Kite Runner, and model Alek Wek.
Statelessness results from people falling through the cracks when new countries are created. Mothers in 27 countries are banned by law from passing on their nationalities to their offspring.
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