children born either in Bahrain or abroad if the father is unknown or has not established filiation. In contrast, Bahraini fathers can confer nationality on children born in or outside the country. In Iraq, although the Constitution establishes equality between men and women by providing that nationality is acquired by descent from any Iraqi, the nationality law contains contradictory provisions. While Article 3 affirms that a child born to an Iraqi father or an Iraqi mother is Iraqi, Article 4 provides that a child born outside Iraq to an Iraqi mother and an unknown or stateless father may apply for naturalization only within one year after reaching adulthood, provided the child resides in Iraq at the time of application. The nationality law of Jordan only allows Jordanian mothers to confer nationality if the child is born in Jordan and the father is of unknown nationality, stateless, or has not established filiation. However, it is understood that the practical application of this provision may be limited. In contrast, children born to a Jordanian father, whether in Jordan or abroad, are granted nationality at birth. Under the Kuwaiti nationality law, a Kuwaiti mother cannot automatically confer her nationality to her children under any circumstance. However, a discretionary provision, in principle, allows her to pass on her nationality if the child’s father is unknown or if paternity is not established, but only once the child reaches the age of majority. By contrast, children born to a Kuwaiti father, whether in Kuwait or abroad, are automatically granted nationality at birth. Under the Lebanese nationality law, a Lebanese mother can only confer her nationality on her child if the child is born out of wedlock and she is the first to legally recognize the child. By contrast, a Lebanese father can confer his nationality on his children in all situations, though in cases where the child is born out of wedlock the father still needs to legally recognize the child. Under the nationality law of Libya, a Libyan mother can confer nationality on her children only in limited circumstances. While in principle a child born in Libya to a Libyan mother and an unknown or stateless father, or a father whose nationality is unidentified, can acquire Libyan nationality on a discretionary basis, the practical ability of these provisions is unclear. This discretionary grant of citizenship may also be available to the children of Libyan mothers and non-Libyan fathers, but the status of the law and its implementation is uncertain. In contrast, Libyan fathers can confer nationality on their children automatically, regardless of whether they are born inside or outside of Libya. According to the nationality law of Mauritania, children born in Mauritania to Mauritanian mothers and foreign fathers are automatically granted nationality.7 Additionally, Mauritanian mothers automatically confer nationality on their children if the father is unknown or stateless, 7 Children born in Mauritania to Mauritanian mothers and foreign fathers can renounce their nationality in the year before reaching majority, even if this results in statelessness. This provision was originally intended to prevent dual nationality. However, a 2021 legal reform now allows Mauritanians to retain dual nationality, eliminating the requirement to renounce Mauritanian nationality upon naturalization in another country. While the provision on renouncing nationality remains in the nationality law, it falls outside the scope of this paper and, in practice, is understood to not be a cause of statelessness in the Mauritanian context. 14 U N H C R > B A C K G R O U N D N O T E O N G E N D E R E Q U A L I T Y, N AT I O N A L I T Y L A W S A N D S TAT E L E S S N E S S 2 0 2 6