Universal Periodic Review recommendations on gender equal
nationality laws
The issue of gender discrimination in nationality laws has received significant attention in
recent years through the Human Rights Council’s Universal Periodic Review (UPR), a process
that regularly reviews the human rights records of all 193 UN Member States. From 2008 to
2024 (up to the 45th session), at least 187 Recommendations were made calling for the removal
of gender discriminatory provisions in nationality laws that prevent mothers from conferring
nationality on their children.4
Among the States that received these Recommendations, Kenya, Liberia, Madagascar, Monaco,
Sierra Leone and Suriname have since reformed their nationality laws to allow mothers to
confer nationality on their children on an equal basis as men. Additionally, Iran and the United
Arab Emirates have partially reformed their laws.
Of the total number of Recommendations on this issue, 170 were directed at the 24 countries
where women who are nationals at birth cannot confer nationality on their biological children.
Of these, 30% of Recommendations were accepted, including by: the Bahamas (8), Bahrain (12),
Barbados (6), Iran (1), Iraq (1), Lebanon (2), Libya (5), Nepal (1), Oman (2), Qatar (1), Saudi Arabia
(7), Syria (4) and Togo (1).
Law reforms and other developments
to date
There is growing willingness and commitment by States to take action toward achieving gender
equality in nationality laws. In many instances, discriminatory provisions in nationality laws
were ‘inherited’ by newly independent States from former colonial powers and have remained
unchanged for decades. However, in recent years, various countries have undertaken reforms
to allow mothers to confer nationality on their children on an equal basis with fathers, including
Sri Lanka (2003), Egypt (2004), Algeria (2005), Indonesia (2006), Morocco (2007), Bangladesh
(2009), Kenya (2010), Tunisia (2010), Yemen (2010), Monaco (2005, 2011), Senegal (2013),
Suriname (2014), Madagascar (2017),5 Sierra Leone (2006, 2017), and Liberia (2022).
In addition, a few countries have in recent years partially reformed their nationality laws to
expand mothers’ rights to confer nationality on their children, though discrimination still exists.
4
The analysis was conducted using the Universal Human Rights Index of the Office of the High Commissioner for
Human Rights (available at: https://uhri.ohchr.org/en/search-human-rights-recommendations). The query covered the period
from the beginning of 2008 to the 45th session in 2024. However, it may not have captured all relevant recommendations.
5
The law reform in Madagascar addressed only the ability of mothers to confer nationality on their biological children;
women can still not confer nationality on adopted children.
6
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