1.2.3.2. Children Children’s right to a nationality is affirmed in Convention on the Rights of the Child (CRC, 1989) multiple treaties. Nationality is not only essential for a child’s legal identity, but also for accessing education, healthcare, social protection, and other Treaty body: Committee on the rights of the basic rights. Preventing childhood statelessness is Child (CRC Committee) therefore a central obligation under both international and regional law. Key advocacy priorities: To protect children from statelessness, civil society organisations can: advocate for law and policy reforms that strengthen safeguards against childhood statelessness push for universal, accessible, and free birth registration, especially in rural and marginalised communities monitor and document cases of stateless children and discriminatory practices support strategic litigation on behalf of children at risk of statelessness Ratification status: all African States Key article(s): Article 7 and Article 8 Article 7 of the CRC reinforces Article 24 of the ICCPR. It guarantees every child: the right to a nationality the right to a name the right to birth registration It also requires States to take special measures for children who would otherwise be stateless. Article 8(1) protects the child’s right to preserve their identity – which includes their nationality. This is a unique safeguard that obliges States not only to grant nationality but also to protect it from loss, denial, or arbitrary interference. International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR, 1966) African Charter on the Rights and Welfare of the Child (ACRWC, 1990) Treaty body: African Committee of Experts Treaty body: Human Rights Committee (HRC) on the Rights and Welfare of the Child Ratification status: all African States except (ACERWC) Comoros (signed but not ratified) Ratification status: 51 African States Key article(s): Article 24 Key article(s): Article 6 The ICCPR requires States to ensure that every child has: The ACRWC provides the strongest protection for children in Africa. regional Article 6 guarantees every child: the right to a nationality the right to a name the right to birth registration the right to a nationality the right to a name the right to birth registration 20