Summary

The present report highlights the fact that statelessness is contrary to the principle of the best interests of the child and that arbitrary deprivation of nationality places children in a situation of increased vulnerability to human rights violations, including of their right to an identity, education, the highest attainable standard of health, family life and an adequate standard of living. The right of every child to acquire a nationality is guaranteed in international human rights law with the aim of avoiding a situation whereby the child is afforded less protection because he or she is stateless. States must ensure that comprehensive safeguards to prevent statelessness are incorporated into domestic law and implemented effectively in practice, including provisions allowing for the acquisition of nationality by an otherwise stateless child as soon as possible after birth.