On The Protection Of Stateless Persons In Germany 37 After providing an overview of the legal framework and the legal status typically granted to stateless persons, the implementation of the definition of statelessness and two of the core provisions of the 1954 Convention will be analyzed, which take into account the ‘special needs’ of the stateless:3 the issuance of travel documents, and access to naturalization. 2 Overview of International Obligations for the Protection of Stateless Persons and Relevant National Legal Framework in Germany Germany has ratified several international treaties relevant to reducing and avoiding statelessness and protecting stateless persons: the 1954 Convention on the Status of Stateless Persons;4 Convention number 13 for the Reduction of Cases of Statelessness of 13 September 1973;5 the 1961 Convention on the Reduction of Statelessness.6 In compliance with Convention number 13 and the 1961 Convention, Germany adopted the law on the Reduction of Statelessness (Gesetz zur Verminderung der Staatenlosigkeit),7 which entered into force on 29 June 1977.8 In addition, other international instruments that 3 These special measures have also been described, in the context of the Refugee Convention, as ‘standards applicable to refugees as refugees’ or ‘refugee specific concerns’. Laura van Waas, Statelessness Matters. Statelessness under International Law (Intersentia 2008) 359-388. To keep this work within boundaries, I focus only on two of these provisions. 4 Bundesgesetzblatt (BGB1, Federal Law Gazette) II 1976, 473. Germany entered reservations to Article 23 on public relief and assistance, and Article 27 on identity papers; 360 UNTS 117 <http://treaties.un.org/pages/ViewDetailsII.aspx?&src=TREATY&mtdsg_no=V~3&chapter =5&Temp=mtdsg2&lang=en> accessed 11 May 2012. 5 This Convention was ratified in 1976. The aim of this Convention is to provide that a child, whose mother has the nationality of a contracting State, shall acquire her nationality, if he would otherwise be stateless. Kay Hailbronner, Günter Brenner, Hans-Georg Maaßen, Staatsangehörigkeitsrecht (5th edn, CH Beck 2010) I.G.10. 6 BGBl II 1977, 597. 7 Gesetz zur Verminderung der Staatenlosigkeit – Ausführungsgesetz (StaatenlMindÜbkAG, Law on the Reduction of Statelessness – Law on Implementation) (BGBl I 1977, 1101), das durch Artikel 3 § 4 des Gesetzes vom 15.07.1999 (BGBl I 1999, 1618) geändert worden ist (Law on the Reduction of Statelessness – Law on Implementation (BGBl I 1977, 1101), lastly amended by art 3 §4 of the Law on 15.07.1999, BGBl I 1999, 1618, 1622). 8 StaatenlMindÜbkAG (BGBl I 1977, 1101), das durch Artikel 3 § 4 des Gesetzes vom 15.07.1999 (BGBl I 1999, 1618) geändert worden ist (Law on the Reduction of Statelessness – Law on Implementation (BGBl I 1977, 1101), lastly amended by art 3 §4 of the Law on 15.07.1999, BGBl I 1999, 1618, 1622). tilburg law review 19 (2014) 35-51