CChapter 3: Comparative analysis of nationality laws human rights instruments that are widely ratified in the MENA region, among which is the Convention on the Rights of the Child, as well as in relevant regional treaties.116 Article 7 of the Covenant on the Rights of the Child in Islam, for instance, determines that: A child shall, from birth, have the right to […] have his nationality determined; States parties shall […] make every effort to resolve the issue of statelessness for any child born on their territories or to any of their citizens outside their territory. These international standards demand that, regardless of the regular rules in place, states include within their legislation the necessary legal safeguards to prevent childhood statelessness. In practice and as indicated in the provision cited above, such safeguards should include both jus soli and jus sanguinis elements, as needed, to ensure that any child who is connected to a state by birthplace or parentage is not rendered stateless. Thus, for example, while a state may choose to generally confer nationality by way of jus sanguinis, 116 - Article 7 of the Convention on the Rights of the Child protects every child’s right to acquire a nationality – it has been ratified by all MENA states. Article 24 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights has a similar provision, as does article 6(3) of the African Charter on the Rights and Welfare of the Child, relevant for a number of countries in the MENA region. Note that this latter instrument also goes on to determine that “States Parties to the present Charter shall undertake to ensure that their Constitutional legislation recognize the principles according to which a child shall acquire the nationality of the State in the territory of which he has been born if, at the time of the child’s birth. he is not granted nationality by any other State in accordance with its laws”. 91

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