Coalition on Every Child’s Right to a Nationality UNCHR and UNICEF are jointly leading a global coalition on the child’s right to a nationality. The Coalition aims to develop, expand and strengthen international cooperation to raise awareness of and combat the hidden problem of child statelessness. It also aims to promote the right of every child to acquire a nationality. Information is available at www.unhcr.org/ ibelong/minority-children-statelessness/ 2.1.2 The Prohibition of Arbitrary Deprivation and Denial of Nationality 91. States should never deprive a child of his or her nationality. This remains the same for children affected by the foreign fighter phenomenon who are often victims of violations of international law by multiple groups. (See section 1.3.1 on treatment of children primarily as victims.) Children should not have their nationality status affected based on the status of their parents or any alleged affiliation or association resulting from coercion or manipulation. Deprivation or denial of nationality is never in the best interests of the child, as this is likely to result in economic, emotional, social and immigration consequences.162 From a security perspective, deprivation of nationality of a child contributes to creating greater insecurity by leaving children with no support to recover or reintegrate and increases marginalization, which may lead to turning to violent extremism in the future. 162 Interregional Crime and Justice Research Institute, Report on Children and Counter-Terrorism (2016), 42. 42. 92. Arbitrary deprivation of nationality is prohibited under international law. While the deprivation of nationality is permissible under international law in certain situations, it must not be arbitrary or unreasonable under the particular circumstance.163 It thus must be carried out in accordance with due process protections and other procedural safeguards to ensure that it serves a legitimate purpose and that it is the least intrusive instrument to achieve the desired result, as well as be proportional to the aim it is seeking to accomplish.164 Circumstances that authorize the deprivation of nationality have been noted to include situations in which an individual has acted in a way that is seriously prejudicial to the vital interests of the State.165 Decisions relating to nationality should be issued in writing and open to effective administrative or judicial review, including on substantive issues.166 93. Deprivation of nationality poses significant risks for human rights violations not only for the individuals stripped of nationality, but also for any children associated with them, especially when their nationality or immigration 163 “Arbitrariness” has been interpreted to mean that every interference must be reasonable in the particular circumstances. See A/HRC/13/34, para. 24. 164 A/HRC/13/34, para. 25. 165 Convention on the Reduction of Statelessness (1961), art. 8(3)(a)(ii). 166 Counter-Terrorism Implementation Task Force Working Group on Promoting and Protecting Human Rights and the Rule of Law while Countering Terrorism, Guidance to States on human rights-compliant responses to the threat posed by foreign fighters (2018), 21-23.