In the film The Terminal starring Tom Hanks, a man is unable to return to his native country because of a military coup and thus ends up in limbo, stateless, not recognised as a citizen of any country and living in an airport.
Have you ever thought of stateless people, those not associated with any state? They face challenges in accessing basic rights and services such as education or health care, or to be able to marry, vote, open a bank account, get a legal job, own property and travel freely. Basically anything a regular person would do.
There are parallels to be made with asylum seekers seeking to become refugees.
This episode highlights the plight of these people and the crucial importance of documentation. It is often through our nationality that we are granted rights, not enjoyed de facto because we belong to the human race.
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Presented and produced by Jonathan Ketchell.
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