©UNHCR/Igor Sljivancanin Reformed nationality law is an equalizer for Liberian mothers and children When the #IBelong Campaign began in 2014, Liberia was one of 27 countries around the world that denied women the right to pass on nationality to their children in the same way as men when born outside of Liberia. Combined with the realities of the country’s recent past – when thousands of women were forced to flee civil wars from 1989 to 2003, and often gave birth to children while displaced – this left a multitude of children vulnerable to statelessness. It was estimated that up to 4,000 children in Liberia were potentially stateless, as well as up to 3,200 children outside the country with a Liberian parent, but the numbers were likely much higher. Most of these children were denied citizenship if the father was absent or unknown. These children were often unable to attend school, receive health care or travel freely. In August 2022, Liberia took steps to rectify this situation and ensure the fundamental right that women can pass nationality on to their children. The country amended its Alien and Nationality Law, immediately addressing one of the biggest causes of stateless among children in the region. The new amendment – which applies to children born abroad to Liberian mothers – represents a major milestone in efforts in removing gender discrimination from nationality laws. Africa has provided many examples of positive policy change since the beginning of the #IBelong Campaign. However, in countries around the world where women can’t confer nationality to their children on an equal basis with men – much work remains to be done. Other notable achievements: • 24 In 2017, the United Arab Emirates (UAE) enacted partial reforms to its law to allow Emirati women married to foreigners to confer their nationality to their children aged six years or older, subject to certain conditions. #IBELONG