the Status of Refugees, the 1954 Convention explicitly excludes individuals when there are serious reasons for considering that they have committed a crime against peace, a war crime, a crime against humanity, or a serious nonpolitical crime abroad. The Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees has been mandated to assist stateless refugees since it was established on 1 January 1951. Since the 1954 Convention and the 1961 Convention on the Reduction of Statelessness entered into force, a series of General Assembly Resolutions and Conclusions adopted by the Executive Committee of the High Commissioner’s Programme have given UNHCR a leadership role in assisting non-refugee stateless persons as a distinct population of persons of concern. UNHCR is tasked to undertake measures to identify, prevent, and reduce statelessness, as well as to promote the protection of stateless persons. The 1954 Convention relating to the Status of Stateless Persons is of critical importance today as millions of people around the world continue to face serious difficulties because they are stateless. Yet too few States are parties to this instrument. In light of the High Commissioner’s call to eradicate statelessness by 2024, UNHCR is renewing its efforts to encourage States to accede to both statelessness treaties. The 1954 Statelessness Convention provides practical solutions for States to address the particular needs of stateless persons that guarantee their security and dignity until their situation can be resolved. It is essential that the provisions of this Convention be widely known and that all stakeholders join UNHCR in promoting increased accessions to the Convention to address the plight of stateless persons worldwide. Information on accessions to the 1954 Convention relating to the Status of Stateless Persons, the 1961 Convention on the Reduction of Statelessness, as well as other relevant details, may be obtained from UNHCR, or from UNHCR’s Refworld website at www.refworld.org/statelessness.html. Geneva, May 2014 4 1954 c o n v e n t i o n • stateless persons