Non-discrimination is a core international principle and human rights law deals with the treatment of nationals and non-nationals alike – recognising distinctions in the enjoyment of rights by these two groups as legitimate in only limited, exceptional cases. Nevertheless, the reality is that stateless persons across the globe find themselves unable to access their basic rights and freedoms in broad contrast to the human rights obligations of states. In the MENA region, participants noted that problems may be further exacerbated as the notion of human rights for all has yet to be fully realized and access to a variety of government services may be deemed a question of privilege rather than an inherent right, with the possession of nationality seen as key. Participants noted, however, that intermediary or ad hoc solutions do exist in practice, in particular for groups within stateless populations such as children, as many countries in the region have taken informal or formal steps to facilitate the enjoyment of essential rights such as the right to education and/ or health services. Nevertheless, participants expressed concern that statelessness often continues into adulthood, at which point the problems experienced are magnified if nothing has been done to address the status of such persons earlier. Looking at long-term solutions, participants acknowledged that some situations have become protracted and may not be ripe for immediate and full resolution through conferral of nationality. As a result, the question was raised as to whether promoting the enjoyment of human rights by stateless persons should be the primary focus of efforts to address statelessness in the region. Participants suggested a two-tiered approach where one hand a systemic solution to cases of statelessness should be advocated in the long term. Moreover, emphasis should also be given to the promotion and protection of the human rights of stateless persons in all situations. In that respect, governments should be encouraged to introduce amendments to current legislation and administrative practices to ensure the enjoyment of the fundamental human rights of stateless persons, in accordance with their international human rights obligations. The promotion of a human rights-based approach, may contribute to the protection of the human rights of stateless persons and, in the long term, the possible prevention of further statelessness and reduction of cases over time. Debating the approach further, participants agreed that the promotion and protection of human rights and fundamental freedoms for stateless persons would be one way for stateless persons to become better informed about their own situation and rights and secondly more actively engaged in claiming their rights, including their right to a nationality. At the same time, participants recalled the fundamental importance of preventing new cases of statelessness because this allows hardship to be avoided and can often, in fact, be achieved through simple and low-cost measures. Furthermore, participants reaffirmed that where, for instance, there is an opportunity to confirm an individual’s status as a national, such as through procedures for the issuance of personal documentation, this should continue to take precedence over the documentation of the individual as stateless in order to ensure access to a core bundle of rights as described above. In such circumstances, prevention and reduction techniques must be favoured over a focus on the protection of stateless persons as stateless persons. Moreover, efforts to promote the protection of stateless persons as stateless persons may serve to strengthen sentiments that they are in some way “outsiders”, while they will 18