Conferral of nationality by parents on adopted children The table below divides the five countries where women do not have equal rights as men to confer nationality on their adopted children. In the nationality law of the country in red, women cannot confer nationality on their adopted children under any circumstances. In the nationality laws of the countries in orange, a woman can confer nationality only if she adopts the child as a single parent. The Bahamas Barbados Kiribati Madagascar Mauritius Analysis of nationality legislation with gender inequality in conferring nationality on children Middle East and North Africa The nationality law of Bahrain only allows Bahraini mothers to confer nationality on their children born either in Bahrain or abroad if the father is unknown or has not established filiation. In contrast, Bahraini fathers can confer nationality on children born in or outside the country. In Iraq, although the Constitution establishes equality between men and women by providing that nationality is acquired by descent from any Iraqi, the nationality law contains contradictory provisions. While one article aligns with the Constitution, another stipulates that a child born outside Iraq to an Iraqi mother and an unknown or stateless father may apply for naturalization only within one year after reaching adulthood, provided the child resides in Iraq at the time of application. The nationality law of Jordan only allows Jordanian mothers to confer nationality if the child is born in Jordan and the father is of unknown nationality, stateless, or has not established filiation. However, it is understood that the practical application of this provision may be limited. In contrast, children born to a Jordanian father, whether in Jordan or abroad, are granted nationality at birth. Under the Kuwaiti nationality law, a Kuwaiti mother cannot automatically confer her nationality to her children under any circumstances. However, a discretionary provision, in principle, allows her to pass on her nationality if the child’s father is unknown or if paternity is not established, but only once the child reaches the age of majority. By contrast, children born to a Kuwaiti father, whether in Kuwait or abroad, are automatically granted nationality at birth. 10 U N H C R > B A C K G R O U N D N O T E O N G E N D E R E Q U A L I T Y, N AT I O N A L I T Y L A W S A N D S TAT E L E S S N E S S 2 0 2 5