A New Chapter in Documenting Statelessness Across the Region
Date: August 19, 2025
Developed by: Nationality for All (NFA)
The Statelessness Encyclopedia Asia Pacific (SEAP) Third Edition is here!
We are thrilled to announce the launch of the Third Edition of SEAP — now live on the SEAP website. Covering 25 countries across South Asia and the Pacific, SEAP has evolved from an internal research tool launched in 2021 into the go-to regional hub for information on statelessness law, policy, and practice.
This latest edition marks a significant step forward in our ongoing efforts to strengthen knowledge, transparency, and regional collaboration on statelessness.
✨ What’s New in the Third Edition
The SEAP Third Edition introduces a range of exciting updates and innovations:
✔ Real-time online updates: All factsheets and legal analyses are now updated directly on the SEAP website, eliminating the need to wait for static PDF releases.
✔ New thematic coverage: For the first time, SEAP includes an in-depth analysis of Digital ID and Civil Registration and Vital Statistics (CRVS) systems, examining their implications for stateless and at-risk communities across the region.
✔ Expanded country coverage: The Third Edition now features Guam, Northern Mariana Islands, and American Samoa, broadening the Encyclopedia’s reach and inclusivity.
✔ Enhanced accessibility: Each country factsheet now includes citations and source references for easier verification, research, and policy engagement.
🌏 Why SEAP Matters
The Asia-Pacific region is home to the largest stateless population in the world, yet data and legal information remain fragmented and difficult to access. SEAP seeks to change that by providing a comprehensive, accessible, and evidence-based resource for policymakers, researchers, advocates, and community organisations.
This edition offers valuable insights into:
- Legal identity systems and nationality laws
- Digital identity and CRVS frameworks
- Domestic and international commitments on statelessness
- The lived realities and resilience of stateless communities across the region
By centralising information, SEAP supports stronger advocacy, informed policymaking, and cross-country collaboration to end statelessness and advance the right to nationality for all.
🙏 A Collective Effort
The development of SEAP’s Third Edition would not have been possible without the incredible contributions of practitioners, researchers, pro bono law firms, grassroots organisations, and civil society partners from across the region.
Their expertise, commitment, and collaboration have made SEAP a truly regional and collective resource, one that reflects the diversity and complexity of statelessness in Asia and the Pacific.
Nationality for All extends its heartfelt gratitude to everyone who played a role in this milestone. Together, we continue to build a more just and inclusive region where every person’s right to nationality is recognised and protected.
🔗 Explore SEAP Third Edition now
