ANNEX 1 Expert Meeting Interpreting the 1961 Statelessness Convention and Preventing Statelessness among Children Dakar, Senegal 23 and 24 May 2011 Agenda Monday, 23 May 2011 09:00 – 09:30 Registration 09:30 – 10:00 Opening remarks • UNHCR will briefly outline why it is focusing on development of guidance on the statelessness conventions, in particular the provisions of the 1961 Convention safeguards for preventing statelessness among children • The Open Society Justice Initiative will provide an overview of its work in the area of prevention and reduction of child statelessness 10:00 – 10:30 NORMATIVE DEVELOPMENTS ON PREVENTION OF STATELESSNESS – BACKGROUND TO THE 1961 CONVENTION AND DEVELOPMENTS IN INTERNATIONAL HUMAN RIGHTS LAW SINCE 1961 • Professor René de Groot will provide a brief overview of the background to the 1961 Convention and the developments in international and regional human rights law since 1961 10:30 – 11:15 WHEN IS A CHILD – OR PERSON – “OTHERWISE STATELESS”? • Definition of statelessness • Focus on situation of the child • Determination of the non-possession of any foreign nationality • Undetermined nationality 11:15 – 11:45 Break 11:45 – 13:00 WHEN IS A CHILD – OR PERSON – “OTHERWISE STATELESS”? (contd.) • Possibility to acquire the nationality of a parent by registration • De facto stateless persons 13:00 – 14:15 Lunch break 13