Law reform enabling acquisition of nationality by registration Brazil nn Brazilians abroad whose children were stateless because of a 1994 Constitutional Amendment joined together to form a civil-society movement, Brasileirinhos Apátridas, to achieve legal reform. The movement used a clearinghouse website to centralize the exchange of experiences and strategies. nn A political ally of the movement in the Brazilian Senate drafted an amendment to the Constitution that would reduce and prevent statelessness. To overcome a congressional stalemate, other partners joined the movement to increase political pressure for reform. nn Strategic and creative use of the media – both abroad and in Brazil – highlighted the cost of statelessness for the children and their families. nn The 2007 Constitutional Amendment not only ensured that statelessness would be prevented from arising in the future, but also included a special transitional provision guaranteeing that all children who had been rendered stateless could acquire Brazilian citizenship and rectify their situation. nn After the 2007 Constitutional Amendment was passed, the Brasileirinhos Apátridas movement publicized the new law throughout the diaspora and helped families to ensure their children could acquire Brazilian nationality by registering with Brazilian authorities abroad. nn Brazil acceded to the 1961 Convention on the Reduction of Statelessness shortly after amending its Constitution. Statelessness situation Nationality matters in Brazil are regulated by the country’s Constitution, rather than ordinary legislation. The Brazilian Constitution has always enshrined the jus soli principle by conferring Brazilian nationality to all children born in Brazil. However, the rules regarding conferral of Brazilian nationality through descent, pursuant to the jus sanguinis principle, have been subject to amendment. Until 1994, children born abroad to a Brazilian mother or father could acquire Brazilian nationality provided they registered with a Brazilian consular representation. From 1994 onwards, due to an amendment of Article 12 of the Brazilian 19 Constitution, Brazilian nationality could only be conferred on a child born abroad to a Brazilian father or mother if the child returned to reside in Brazil and applied for Brazilian nationality. Brazil is not only a country of immigration but also of emigration. An estimated 3 million Brazilians were living abroad when the 1994 Constitutional amendment was passed. Between 1994 and 2007, an estimated 200,000 children of Brazilians abroad were rendered stateless as a result of the 1994 Constitutional amendment, particularly those born in countries with strict jus sanguinis traditions. CAMPAIGN TO END STATELESSNESS WITHIN 10 YE ARS