Can you imagine living your entire life without a nationality—without the legal right to education, healthcare, work, or even to call any country your home? This was the sobering question raised at Universitas Islam Internasional Indonesia (UIII) on September 24, 2025 when Professor Michelle Foster, William Hearn Professor of Law and Dean of Melbourne Law School, delivered her lecture titled “Invisible Citizen: The Global Challenges of Statelessness.”

Addressing students and faculty, Prof. Foster painted a stark picture of millions of people who, though born and raised in their communities, are denied recognition under the law. “They belong socially, but not legally,” she said, pointing out that statelessness often forces individuals to live in the shadows, stripped of basic rights most people take for granted.

While the UNHCR officially records about 4 million stateless persons worldwide, Prof. Foster stressed that the true number is far higher, with some estimates ranging up to 15 million. “The very fact that we cannot agree on the numbers reflects how invisible these people are—and how reluctant many states are to admit the problem,” she explained.

She emphasized that statelessness is rarely accidental. Discriminatory laws, political exclusion, and historical injustices are often to blame, leaving women, ethnic minorities, and religious groups most at risk. “Statelessness is not natural—it is created by human choices,” she underlined.

The consequences are profound: without nationality, individuals are barred from education, healthcare, jobs, and even the ability to marry or own property. Quoting philosopher Hannah Arendt, Prof. Foster reminded the audience that nationality is “the right to have rights.”

Her lecture also offered hope, citing reforms such as Indonesia’s 2006 amendment to its nationality law, which removed gender-based discrimination. She called on universities and policymakers to continue working toward solutions that restore dignity and belonging to those denied it.

Professor Tim Lindsey, Malcolm Smith Chair of Asian Law and Redmond Barry Distinguished Professor at the University of Melbourne, introduced Prof. Foster and highlighted the importance of building stronger ties between Indonesian and Australian legal scholars. “There is a bright future for collaboration,” he said, pointing to UIII as a vital partner in this effort.

The event left the audience with a powerful reminder: for millions of people, citizenship—the very foundation of rights and identity—remains out of reach. As Prof. Foster concluded, “Invisibility is not inevitability.”