Are there any regional treaties that address the right to a nationality? Regional instruments reinforce the legal basis of the right to a nationality. Article 20 of the 1969 American Convention on Human Rights not only refers to the right to a nationality, but also includes a key safeguard to prevent children from becoming stateless at birth: “Every person has the right to a nationality. Every person has the right to the nationality of the State in whose territory he was born if he does not have the right to any other nationality. No one shall be arbitrarily deprived of his nationality or of the right to change it.” These principles have subsequently been upheld by the jurisprudence of the Inter‑American Court. While the Court has confirmed that the conditions under which nationality is granted remain within the domestic jurisdiction of the State, the Court also found that: “Despite the fact that it is traditionally accepted that the conferral and recognition of nationality are matters for each State to decide, contemporary developments indicate that international law does impose certain limits on the broad powers enjoyed by the States in that area and that the manner in which States regulate matters bearing on nationality cannot today be deemed to be within their sole jurisdiction.” (Inter‑American Court on Human Rights, Advisory Opinion, “Amendments to the Naturalization Provision of the Constitution of Costa Rica,” paragraphs 32-34; text in 5 HRLJ 1984). “Sometimes I hate myself. I feel like I am not a human being. I can’t handle it. My friends can live a natural life. I can’t. My dream to own a car, I can’t have it. Even if I have the money to buy it, it would never be registered in my own name. I dream of getting married, but one man has turned me down because I don’t have a citizenship. I feel like a prisoner. Lebanese papers are worth more than gold, you can pay millions but still not get them. It’s hard for me to see Lebanese girls who have nationality and their papers, especially when they’re not taking advantage of their status as they could – studying, working, fulfilling the dreams I wish I could achieve, but can’t.” Zeinab, a stateless woman living in Lebanon In other words, States must take into consideration the international repercussions of their domestic nationality legislation, particularly if the application of that legislation may result in statelessness. The ECN, a regional instrument drafted by the Council of Europe, was born out of the perceived need to create a single text that consolidated all the developments in domestic and international law regarding nationality since the 1930 Hague Convention addressed the issue of conflicts of nationality laws. In contrast to older treaties adopted in Europe, it also allows for the acquisition of multiple nationalities for married persons of different nationalities and their children. The ECN also covers 15