Statelessness in Lebanon: Leal's Story

"To be stateless is like you don't exist, you simply don't exist. You live in a parallel world with no proof of your identity" - Leal
Leal was born in Lebanon but is stateless. Her grandfather was Lebanese but did not register the birth of Leal's father. As Leal's father was not registered, he in turn could not register the birth of Leal and her six siblings. Today, she is married to a Lebanese man but since she doesn't have any nationality documents, the marriage could not be registered. Without a marriage certificate she could not register the birth of her children. They too are stateless.
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#IBELONG to a world where everyone has the right to a nationality. We need ten million signatures to change ten million lives.
Please sign & share our open letter to end statelessness in ten years: ibelong.unhcr.org/
Across the world today more than ten million people are told they don’t belong ANYWHERE.
They are called ‘stateless’. They are denied a nationality. And with it, they are denied their basic rights.
Statelessness can mean a life without education, without medical care, or legal employment. It can mean a life without the ability to move freely, without prospects, or hope. Statelessness is inhumane.
The main reason people are stateless is because of discrimination. Because of their ethnicity. Because of their religion. Because in some countries women cannot pass their nationality on to their children.
We believe it’s time to end this injustice.
With enough courage we know it is possible. Governments can change their laws and procedures, and give stateless people their rights and a place to belong.
Within ten years, we can ensure everyone has a nationality. Because if we don’t this injustice will only get worse. A child is born stateless every ten minutes. By the time you finish reading this letter another person may have started life without a nationality.
We are ready to make our voices heard. We believe that if we take a stand, others will join us. And if enough of us stand up we will end this inhumanity.
That is why UNHCR is launching the Campaign to End Statelessness in ten years.
Sixty years ago, the world agreed to protect stateless people. Now it’s time to end statelessness itself.
Please sign & share our open letter to end statelessness in ten years: ibelong.unhcr.org/
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[@CFC13Legend]

It is not her fault and she cannot do anything about it. This is the sad part. The UN must pressure countries like Lebanon to end this issue asap .

[@vevomaxx5779]

PRAYERS FOR LEAL AND HER FAMILY.

[@vthilton]

Sharing, Justice and Peace for all will Save Our Planet.

[@supernova44]

I would not have children to put them in the same situation. This should have been considered first.

[@thomasfristmd1876]

Lebanon should be ashamed of itself. Give this lady citizenship!

[@jonaleekakati7113]

*Reply the things Lebanon can do for the stateless people below*

[@MphoMpati]

What a terrible cycle in this family.

[@manolis1080]

in Arab countries the Bedouin or Bedun people who are Arabs nomads or ex nomads herders are discriminated by the urban Arabs to the point they don't give them nationality id even if they are Arabs and born there..