trafficking, particularly women and children, some of whom may be stateless. Another objective is to ensure an enhanced focus on tackling the root causes of illegal migration, which include statelessness.53 3. Identification of stateless and at risk populations “Identification” of statelessness essentially means mapping stateless persons as well as at risk populations. Such mapping should be as comprehensive as possible. Compiling statistics that provide an insight into the magnitude of the problem is an important part of this, but effective identification of statelessness goes much further. It includes mapping the demographic profile of the population, establishing the cause of statelessness and highlighting any obstacles standing in the way of addressing the issue. Another component of identification is assessing problems of access to rights and services, as well as any other protection concerns. Finally, mapping all stakeholders concerned and establishing their interests will complete the identification exercise.54 3.1 Background research, including legal analysis A good place to start in identifying statelessness is some form of background research. A desk review of existing reports by academics, government bodies, civil society, human rights institutions, the UN system and the media will offer a first insight into the problem in a particular country.55 It will also uncover gaps in information. The present paper is a case in point – the exercise of compiling existing information relating to statelessness in ASEAN countries was, in itself, informative. Some situations are relatively well documented. For example, with regard to the Muslim residents of northern Rakhine State in Myanmar, there has been widespread reporting on magnitude, underlying causes, protection concerns and efforts to tackle the issue.56 There has also been a substantial amount of writing on problems of statelessness in Thailand.57 Additionally, there are sources that offer some insight into the issue in different countries as part of an overall discussion of human rights practices, such as annual reports by the US Department of State.58 Overall, however, a common theme across the region is the lack of comprehensive research into the problem of statelessness, meaning that much work still needs to be done in the area of identification. One particular type of background study that can be carried out with relevant ease is a legal analysis. If done systematically, this will provide an immediate insight into potential problems of statelessness. By identifying gaps in the law or its implementation, where there are inadequate safeguards to prevent statelessness, it is possible to establish which sectors of a population may be stateless or at heightened 53 States participating in the Bali Process have acknowledged the connection between tackling statelessness and combating human smuggling and trafficking. This is evidenced, for instance, by efforts to discuss concerns surrounding the situation of the Muslim residents of northern Rakhine State on the sidelines of a meeting of the Bali Process in 2009. E. Schwartz, Assistant Secretary, US Bureau of Population, Refugees and Migration, Protecting stateless persons: the Role of the US Government, statements made at a conference on statelessness, Washington DC, 30 October 2009; ‘Bali Process’ may address Rohingya crisis, Inter Press Service [International News Agency], 28 February 2009; Bali process failed to solve Rohingya boatpeople issue: AI, Mizzima News [India], 17 April 2009; Bali process inadequate to help Rohingya: NGOs, Jakarta Globe [Indonesia], 29 May 2009. 54 Note that in 2008, UNHCR published a tool that guides stakeholders in drawing together and analysing information: “Statelessness – An analytical framework for prevention, reduction and protection”. 55 UNHCR’s Executive Committee has asked the agency to facilitate the sharing of existing information on statelessness by including in its biennial reports on activities related to stateless persons “statistics provided by States and research undertaken by academic institutions and experts, civil society and its own staff in the field on the magnitude of statelessness”. UNHCR Executive Committee, Conclusion on Identification, Prevention and Reduction of Statelessness and Protection of Stateless Persons, No. 106, 6 October 2006. 56 See, for instance, Minorities at Risk Project, Assessment for Rohingya (Arakanese) in Burma, 2003; Minorities at Risk Project, Chronology for Rohingya (Arakanese) in Burma, 2004; S. Garcia and C. Olson, Rohingya: Burma’s forgotten minority, Refugees International, 2008; Human Rights Watch, Perilous Plight – Burma’s Rohingya take to the seas, 2009. 57 See, for instance, T. Lee, Statelessness, human rights and gender: irregular migrant workers from Burma in Thailand, Martinus Nijhoff Publishers, 2005; Punthip Kanchanachittra Saisoonthorn, “Development of concepts of nationality and the efforts to reduce statelessness in Thailand” in Refuge Survey Quarterly, Vol. 25, Issue 3, 2006; UNESCO, Citizenship Manual – Capacity building on birth registration and citizenship in Thailand, 2008; C. Komai and F. Azukizawa, “Stateless persons from Thailand in Japan” in Forced Migration Review, Issue 32, 2009. 58 Each of the annual US State Department reports on countries’ human rights practices contains a section dedicated to statelessness. 8