A stateless person does not have the nationality of any country. A refugee, on the other hand, is someone who, fleeing conflict and persecution, has crossed an international border in search of protection. While most refugees have a nationality, it is possible for a person to be both stateless and a refugee. However, most stateless people have never crossed an international border; in other words, they live in the country where they were born.

There are multiple factors that cause statelessness. In some cases, people are born stateless, but sometimes they become stateless.

1 - Gaps in nationality laws. Every country has laws that determine the process for acquiring nationality and citizenship. If these laws are not drafted and implemented properly, some people can fall into these gaps and become stateless. For example, when a girl or boy is born in a country where nationality is acquired by descent, but the mother and father have the nationality of another state and cannot transmit it.

2 - Discrimination. In many cases, statelessness results from laws and policies that discriminate based on a person's language, racial identity, or beliefs, resulting in protracted and large-scale statelessness, which can last for generations, in the country of birth. States also deprive people of a nationality when they incorporate discriminatory criteria into their laws; Thus, entire communities can become stateless from one moment to the next. In fact, the majority of the world's known stateless populations belong to minority groups.

Gender discrimination in nationality laws is also a major cause of statelessness; for example, in some countries, nationality laws prevent women from transmitting their nationality to their offspring in the same way as men. Consequently, children can become stateless when the father is stateless, or when his identity is unknown, missing, or deceased.

3 - New borders and states. The emergence of new countries or changes in borders can lead to statelessness. Certain groups may be left without a nationality, even when newly created countries offer nationality to all. In particular, for ethnic, racial, or religious minorities, it may not be easy to prove their connection to a country.

4 - Loss or deprivation of nationality. Citizens of some countries may lose their nationality if they live abroad for a long time.

In this sense, a person runs the risk of becoming stateless if they cannot prove their ties to their country. Not having a birth certificate can pose such risks, as it is a document that proves where a person was born and who their relatives are, providing the information necessary to verify nationality.

Stateless persons are entitled to the same fundamental human rights as everyone else, although in practice these rights are often limited due to a lack of legal recognition. According to the international human rights framework, their rights include:

1. Right to life and security of person: Protection from violence, exploitation, or trafficking.
2. Right to non-discrimination: Equality and non-discrimination in all contexts, including employment, education, and health.
3. Right to a legal identity: Access to identity documents and birth registration to avoid perpetuating statelessness.
4. Right to education: Equal access to educational opportunities and vocational training.
5. Right to employment: Labor protection and the right to work under fair conditions.
6. Access to basic services: Such as health care, housing, and social assistance.
7. Right to freedom of movement: Movement without arbitrary restrictions.
8. Right to nationality: Protection from statelessness and the ability to acquire a nationality.

The treatment of statelessness varies significantly across countries, depending on their legal frameworks and international commitments. Here are some key points:

1. Countries with advanced policies: Some countries, such as Spain, have implemented clear procedures to recognize and protect stateless persons. For example, in Spain, a stateless person can request recognition of their status and access basic rights such as residency and work.
2. Regions with significant challenges: In countries like Myanmar, statelessness affects entire communities, such as the Rohingya, who have been deprived of their nationality since 1982. This leaves them extremely vulnerable, facing discrimination and mass displacement.
3. International commitments: Some countries have ratified the 1954 Convention relating to the Status of Stateless Persons and the 1961 Convention on the Reduction of Statelessness, committing to protect stateless persons and prevent further cases. However, many countries have yet to sign these treaties.
4. Success stories: In Latin America, countries like Brazil have adopted measures to prevent statelessness, such as granting nationality to children born in their territory who would otherwise be stateless.