I. Ratify the 1961 Convention on the Reduction of Statelessness (Slovakia);3 II. Amend expeditiously the Births and Deaths Registration Act to ensure that all children born in Zimbabwe, regardless of their parents’ origin, are issued with birth certificates (Slovakia);4 III. Undertake a review with a view to ensuring a coordinated system bridging gaps, especially with respect to the provision of birth certificates (South Africa)5 Zimbabwe accepted the first and third recommendation and noted the second. 5. During the 26th session, Zimbabwe received the following recommendations: I. Continue to adopt measures to increase the rate of issuance of birth certificates, especially in rural areas and in low-income households (Turkey);6 II. Increase prompt access to birth registration and public awareness for the same (Kenya);7 IV. Reinforce policies to ensure that all children born in Zimbabwe, regardless of their parents’ origins, are issued with birth certificates (Holy See);8 V. Consider amending the existing legislation to ensure that all children born in Zimbabwe, regardless of their parents’ origin, are issued with birth certificates and ensure the paternity rights of children born out of wedlock (Namibia);9 VI. Scale up efforts to ensure that all children are issued with a birth certificate (Mexico);10 Zimbabwe accepted all above recommendations. Zimbabwe’s International obligations 6. Zimbabwe is not a State party to the 1961 Statelessness Convention; however, it has acceded to the 1954 Statelessness Convention with no reservations. 7. Zimbabwe has international obligations to protect the right to a nationality and to protect the rights of stateless persons on the basis of other UN and regional treaties to which it is party. These include, among others, the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (Article 24(3) ICCPR), the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights (Articles 2.2 and 3 ICESCR), the Convention on the Rights of the Child (Article 2, 3, 7 and 8 CRC), the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women (Article 9 CEDAW), the International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination (Article 5(d)(iii) CERD), and the 3 A/HRC/19/14, recommendation 94.9. A/HRC/19/14, recommendation 94.30. 5 A/HRC/19/14, recommendation 93.49. 6 A/HRC/34/8, recommendation 131.61. 7 A/HRC/34/8, recommendation 131.62. 8 A/HRC/34/8, recommendation 132.78. 9 A/HRC/34/8, recommendation 132.79. 10 A/HRC/34/8, recommandation 132.80. 4 1