QUICK GUIDE 1 - DESK REVIEW Quick Guide 1 DESK REVIEW All data collection activities should begin with a “desk review”. This is a process which assesses the current situation and state of knowledge in relation to statelessness in a given context by analyzing multiple sources of data that are already available. A desk review can help to: • Provide an overview of the existing information on statelessness in a given context, including on affected populations, causes and consequences, key stakeholders and possible solutions; • Establish baseline data, including statistics, on situations of statelessness; and • Highlight gaps in information, which in turn can help to develop and refine the key questions to be investigated through the primary data collection phase. A desk review normally requires assessment of five main sources, namely: legislation, policies and administrative frameworks; existing research; the media; and statistics. Legislation, policies and administrative frameworks Legislation, which can be in the form of a Constitution and/ or nationality laws, regulations, by-laws and decrees, will typically set out the rules according to which a person or group of people may or may not be recognised as citizens. Policies and administrative frameworks or documents, which can take the form of guidelines, protocols, procedures etc., will usually set out the process through which the legislation is to be implemented. Given that statelessness issues are often associated with situations of historical migration to a country, it is important to consider past versions of legislation, policy, and administrative frameworks which could have a bearing on the nationality status of an individual or group over the time they have lived in the country. Civil registration laws and policies should also be assessed, as these will have a bearing on a person’s access to documentation needed to prove entitlement to nationality. If it is unclear whether a person or a group of people is entitled to the nationality of one 4 U N H C R > R E S E A R C H I N G S TAT E L E S S N E S S - Q U I C K G U I D E S U N H C R > R E S E A R C H I N G S TAT E L E S S N E S S - Q U I C K G U I D E S 5