© UNHCR/Frederic Noy ACTION 7: Ensure birth registration for the prevention of statelessness Individuals can be at risk of statelessness if they have difficulties proving that they have links to a State. Lack of birth registration can create such a risk. This is because birth registration documents where a person was born and who their parents are – key pieces of information needed to establish which country’s nationality a child can acquire. In some countries, children may not be registered because registration procedures are complex or establish documentation or other requirements which are difficult to fulfil. Specific groups may face problems, especially children born out of wedlock, nomadic populations and the children of non-citizens, including refugees and migrants. Chad responds to historic crises with widespread birth registrations In November 2017 – with support from UNHCR and UNICEF – the Government of Chad convened civil society organizations, diplomats, members of other UN agencies, and others to announce its commitment to the fight against statelessness. 32 #IBELONG Recent statistics had indicated that only 12 percent of children under the age of five years old within the country were included in the civil registry, and more than 130,000 refugee children born in Chad were in the same situation. These sobering facts pointed to severe risks of statelessness for thousands of children.