28. At the same time it is also clear that, by virtue of their minority, children are not in a position to exercise some of the rights and benefits ordinarily associated with nationality for so long as they are children. This is a feature highlighted by a leading expert on children and nationality, Jacqueline Bhaba 2 , in her article on “The importance of nationality for children”, Institute on Statelessness and Exclusion, 2017:
“Many of these rights and obligations are not applicable to nationals under 18 years of age: children cannot vote, they cannot stand for public office, they cannot serve on juries, and, as a matter of international law, they cannot be compelled to participate in active combat.”
29. However, she goes on to emphasise that “these exclusions do not negate the importance of nationality for children.” She then notes the following examples:
“First, even a very young child, like an adult, will need proof of nationality to qualify for safe and legal border crossing. Second, more age specifically, though
primary education is supposed to be free and universally available
to all
children
irrespective of nationality
, comparable international mandates do not apply to other, equally critical, educational opportunities, a deficit with consequential implications. Compared to their non-national peers,
children who are citizens generally have privileged access to early childhood development and preschool opportunities, as well as to post primary education, college scholarships and other educational facilities
. The same
enhanced access for citizen children also applies to health care, to social welfare protections and to other critical economic and social rights facilities
.”
- DECISION AND REASONS
- Submissions at the hearing
- General
- Nationality
- 28. At the same time it is also clear that, by virtue of their minority, children are not in a position to exercise some of the rights and benefits ordinarily associated with nationality for so long as they are children. This is a feature highlighted by a leading expert on children and nationality, Jacqueline Bhaba 2 , in her article on “The importance of nationality for children”, Institute on Statelessness and Exclusion, 2017:
- British citizenship and British citizen children
- British citizenship and Union citizenship
- Dual or multiple nationality
- 39. But there can also be disadvantages of having more than one nationality. As a dual citizen, a person is bound by the laws of both countries. Dual citizens may be legally obligated to fulfil military obligations in one or both of the countries of nationality. In some countries there are employment security clearance hurdles for persons who have another nationality. There is also the potential for double taxation. Further, there is the potential difficulty for persons seeking to rely on the opportunity to exercise their rights and benefits as a national of one country, that they have available a separate set of rights and benefits flowing from their other nationality. This last feature is one we will have to consider further in the context of this appeal.
- Specific legal framework
- “Exceptional circumstances
- Section 55
- Statutory provisions and Section 117B(6)
- The Immigration Rules
- Policy
- Case law
- disruption
- Private life
- The appellant’s case
- The Immigration Rules: Appendices FM and FM-SE
- Article 8
- Public interest considerations
- The position of the sponsor
- The option of the children joining the sponsor in the UK on their own
- The option of the sponsor returning to Sri Lanka
- status quo ante
- or the appellant and children being able to live in the UK
- The best interests of the children
- The appellant’s position under the Rules
- Zambrano
- [2012] 1 CMLR 45