Provide in law for judicial procedures to establish conclusive proof of nationality, including the
right to appeal in case of rejection.
Establish procedures for the determination of statelessness and the protection of stateless
persons, including through providing pathways to obtain the nationality of the country where
the person is resident.
7.4. Nationality administration
ECOWAS Member States should adopt measures to increase accessibility, due process, transparency
and efficiency in nationality administration, including by:
Improving the current operation and archiving of civil registration systems, aiming to achieve
100 percent registration of births, including for children of migrants, refugees, nomadic
populations and other marginalised groups.
Publishing annual statistics on nationality procedures, including issuance of identity
documents, certificates of nationality, and naturalisations.
Conducting public awareness campaigns on the need for birth registration and other
documentation, especially in border areas, among nomadic populations and in the poorest
neighbourhoods.
Providing for an effective right for appeal or review of decisions by judicial or administrative
authorities relating to nationality determination, including national identity card systems and
electoral registration.
Providing or facilitating judicial and other assistance for those who are seeking proof of
nationality, especially during periods when new procedures or law reforms are introduced.
7.5. Documentation of populations at risk of statelessness
ECOWAS Member States should seek to identify and provide solutions for those persons who are at
risk of statelessness, and in particular they should:
Conduct research into populations at risk of statelessness, in order to identify those who
require confirmation of their right to nationality of the country they live in, or protection as
stateless persons.
Conduct specific awareness raising activities among populations at risk of statelessness to
encourage individuals to acquire those documents that would confirm their nationality,
including birth certificates, and to apply for confirmation of nationality through the
procedures available, whether of the country of residence or another relevant country.
In case of forced population movements caused by conflict or other crises, ensure
documentation of those who have been forced to move at the earliest moment, and take
particular measures to provide access to registration for their children.
Where individuals cannot be confirmed to have a nationality under existing laws, provide
them with a status in accordance with the procedures required by the Convention relating to
the Status of Stateless Persons, and facilitate their acquisition of nationality.
7.6. ECOWAS institutional support for inter-state cooperation and common norms
The ECOWAS institutions should facilitate collaboration among ECOWAS Member States to resolve
cases of potential statelessness, by:
Adopting a directive on nationality and the avoidance of statelessness to promote accession
to and implementation of the international treaties on statelessness as well as reform of
national legislation in line with the requirements of international and African norms.
Establishing bi- and tri-lateral commissions to conduct verification missions to border
populations, ensuring that all those resident in border areas have the documents of one or
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