•
enables States to address gaps that result from different approaches to the
acquisition of nationality worldwide through the recognition of common safeguards
for the avoidance of statelessness, without impinging on States’ sovereignty to
regulate nationality; and
•
enhances security and stability by avoiding exclusion and marginalization of
stateless persons.
At the international level, acceding to the 1954 and 1961 Conventions on statelessness:
•
demonstrates a commitment to cooperate with the international community in
reducing and eliminating statelessness;
•
promotes recognition of the international legal status of “stateless person” and
the common international framework for protection, thereby increasing legal
transparency and predictability in States’ response to statelessness;
•
improves international relations and stability;
•
helps to prevent displacement by addressing its causes;
•
helps UNHCR to mobilize international support for adhering to the principles
contained in the Conventions; and
•
helps to resolve nationality‑related disputes.
How does a State accede to the Conventions?
States may accede to the 1954 and/or 1961 Conventions at any time by depositing an
instrument of accession with the Secretary‑General of the United Nations. The instrument
of accession must be signed by the Head of State or Government or Foreign Minister
and then be transmitted through the representative of the country to the United Nations
Headquarters in New York. (Samples of accession instruments are provided in Annex 3.)
Can a State make reservations to the Conventions?
In acknowledgement of the specific conditions that may apply in individual States at
the time of ratification or accession, the Conventions allow Contracting States to make
reservations to some of the Conventions’ provisions, except those provisions deemed
fundamental by the original Contracting States:
52
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The 1954 Convention: reservations are permitted except on Articles 1 (definition/
exclusion clauses), 3 (non‑discrimination), 4 (freedom of religion), 16(1) (access
to courts), and 33 to 42 (Final Clauses).
•
The 1961 Convention: reservations are permitted only concerning
Articles 11 (agency), 14 (referral of disputes to the International Court of Justice)
or 15 (territories for which the Contracting State is responsible).