CHAPTER I CHAPTER II Access to free, independent, confidential, expert legal advice and interpretation as needed Effective training for decision-makers in all relevant agencies Effective monitoring of decision-making CHAPTER III Effective, accessible remedies against refusal of birth registration or nationality applications CHAPTER IV Content of nationality laws and policies to comply with the 1954 and 1961 Conventions UNHCR’s Guidelines on Statelessness, Number 4 provide essential guidance on how the 1961 Convention should be interpreted and implemented by Parties, including, but not limited to: 3. Children have the right to acquire a nationality at birth or as soon as possible thereafter. (Para. 11) 4. States should not classify children as being of ‘undetermined nationality’ for prolonged periods; they should determine the child’s nationality as soon as possible, and within a maximum period of five years. (Para. 22) 5. States that grant their nationality automatically at birth to children who would otherwise be stateless are to treat children of undetermined nationality as having that State’s nationality unless it is proven that the child has another nationality. (Para. 23) 6. If a State requires registration in order for a child who would otherwise be stateless to acquire the nationality of that State, the State may impose only the four conditions set out in the 1961 Convention, which include: RECOMMENDATIONS States must define statelessness in line with the 1954 Convention definition, which is widely acknowledged to have become customary international law. (Para. 16) CHAPTER VII 2. CHAPTER VI The 1961 Convention should be interpreted in a way that complies with other relevant international law. (Paras. 6-12, 34, 35) CHAPTER V 1. a fixed period for lodging an application immediately following the age of majority (Article 1(2)(a)); habitual residence in the Contracting State for a fixed period, not exceeding five years immediately preceding an application nor ten years in all (Article 1(2)(b)); ANNEXES 29