another country (country B). In such circumstances, it can be the case that if the individual from country A has a child in country B, that country B may not permit its nationality to be conferred to that child based solely on the child being born there. Simultaneously, country A may not allow a parent to pass on its nationality through family ties if the child is not born in country A. That child is therefore stateless or at risk of statelessness with no way to register their nationality. In this same way, risks of statelessness may also arise in situations of displacement. NEW STATES & CHANGING ORDERS Another important cause is the emergence of new States and changes in borders. Historic examples include the dissolution of the Soviet Union and the Yugoslav Republic. In many cases, specific groups can be left without a nationality as a result of the collapse of a State. Even where new countries purport to allow nationality for all ethnic, racial and religious minorities or persons outside the territory at the time of the formation of the new State, many frequently have trouble proving their link to the country. LACK OF DOCUMENTS TO PROVE NATIONALITY In some situations, a lack of identity documents results in statelessness. For example, where a person’s birth was never registered, and especially where they have migrated to a new country (or countries), they may not be able to prove where they were born or that they are a national of any country. In this case, while theoretically entitled to a citizenship, they are unable to prove it, and therefore may end up stateless. LACK OF RECOGNITION OF STATEHOOD Persons from territories that are not recognised as States by some governments may be considered stateless. For example, the UK does not officially recognise the State of Palestine as a State, and therefore, the UK Government generally considers Palestinians to be stateless unless they have acquired another nationality. WITHDRAWAL AND DEPRIVATION OF NATIONALITY Statelessness may also arise where individuals lose nationality (withdrawal of nationality that occurs automatically by operation of law) or they are deprived of nationality (where the withdrawal is initiated by the authorities of the State). In some countries, citizens can lose their nationality simply for having lived outside their country for a long period of time. States sometimes also deprive citizens of nationality through changes in law or arbitrary directives that leave whole populations stateless, using discriminatory criteria like ethnicity or race. INTER-GENERATIONAL STATELESSNESS In countries where nationality is only acquired by descent from a national, statelessness can be passed on to the next generation. 6 Recognised Stateless Person photographed at a bus station in London. © UNHCR/Katie Barlow.