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convicted in Burkina Faso or in a foreign country to imprisonment of at least five years for an act
considered as a crime under Burkinabe law; have been convicted to imprisonment of more than
three months for violations of price regulations or for fiscal fraud.
Colombia
16. The Government of Colombia stated that article 96 of the Constitution prohibits the
deprivation of Colombian nationality. The 1991 Constitution introduced the possibility of
holding two or more nationalities. In order to avoid situations of statelessness, article 96 of the
Constitution provides that children of Colombian nationals born abroad acquire Colombian
nationality at birth provided they are registered with the Colombian consulate, without being
required to give proof of domicile in Colombian territory. Renunciation of Colombian nationality
is considered a voluntary act. It is generally requested when persons have or are to acquire
another nationality and the domestic legislation of that country does not allow for multiple
nationalities. The Government indicated the law provides for the possibility to recover
Colombian nationality.
Congo
17. The Government of the Congo stated that article 13 of the Constitution indicates that
Congolese nationality is guaranteed by the law and that Congolese citizens have the right to
change their nationality or to adopt a second nationality. The Nationality Code provides the
conditions to acquire Congolese nationality. The law establishes the right of persons born to
foreign parents in Congolese territory to acquire Congolese nationality. Congolese nationality
may also be acquired through naturalization and long residence in the country.
Costa Rica
18. The Government of Costa Rica stated that the Constitution guarantees the right to a
nationality, also recognized in international instruments to which Costa Rica is party. Article 13
of the Constitution indicates that persons born on Costa Rican territory or to Costa Rican parents
have Costa Rican citizenship. Article 14 lists the persons who are entitled to naturalization.
Article 16 further indicates that Costa Rican citizenship cannot be lost or renounced. The
Government stated that the Constitutional Court has further clarified that this clause on
non-renunciation should be interpreted in conformity with international human rights as an
absolute prohibition on statelessness.
19. The Government reported that in 2007 the Foreign Ministry declared a person to be
stateless in order to issue proper identification documents, in accordance with the provisions of
the Convention Relating to the Status of Stateless Persons.
Ecuador
20. The Government of Ecuador stated that Ecuador respects the right of every person to a
nationality and that it has not carried out acts depriving persons of such a right.