What does it mean to exist in a world mapped by nation-states when no state recognizes you as its own?
For our final episode of the year, Alisa is diving deep into one of the most critical yet invisible human rights crises of our time: statelessness. Joining us is Dr. Laura van Waas, co-founder and co-director of the Institute on Statelessness and Inclusion (ISI), and a leading global authority on the right to nationality.
In this season finale, Laura takes us behind the scenes of her inspiring career path—from her early academic curiosity to co-founding the first global NGO dedicated to this cause. We unpack:
The Anatomy of Statelessness: How does someone become stateless, and why does it look so different from one country to the next?
The Lived Reality: The day-to-day legal, social, and human hurdles faced by millions of people who exist without a passport, a legal identity, or basic rights.
Real Solutions: How the international legal community, NGOs, and everyday advocates can challenge discriminatory nationality laws and build systems of inclusion.
Whether you are a legal scholar, an aspiring human rights advocate, or simply curious about how borders shape human lives, this reflective end-of-year conversation is the perfect way to close out our season.
Thank you to all our listeners for an incredible year of pushing the boundaries of legal thinking. It was an amazing experience to host and coordinate this podcast. We will see you in the new year!