NAMIBIA

Khoekhoegowab

There is no commonly used word for statelessness identified by the contributor.

Instead, a descriptive term is used:

hu-o

“Without a country.”

Statelessness may also be described as:

ini e uha tamasis

“Not having papers.”

The contributor specifically cautions that the spelling of the latter expression may not be fully accurate.

How statelessness is understood

The contributor says statelessness is largely understood through lack of documents or registration. This can create the perception that not being registered is a failure by the individual rather than a situation produced by circumstances beyond their control.

For the contributor, “without a country” or “not having papers” captures only one part of the experience. Statelessness can also involve exclusion from community life, human-rights consequences and stigma.