    as the state is able to control and manipulate the representation of their cultural heritage in order to benefit the state. They observe that ‘the increasing commodification of what is presented as heritage [means that] even stateless people may be appropriated as representatives of a heritage that is intended not only to create a national narrative, but also to attract the touristic gaze and the revenue it generates’. This results in both the loss of cultural autonomy and the perpetuation of their disadvantaged status in society. 1.6 Challenges and Prospects for Reform Notwithstanding the multifaceted and complex causes of statelessness and its protracted and intergenerational nature in many countries in Asia, some progress has been made in reducing statelessness and protecting stateless people across this diverse region. As mentioned above, gender-discriminatory provisions in nationality laws have been removed from many states in the region. The UNHCR notes that much of this reform is relatively recent, citing Sri Lanka (2003), Indonesia (2006), and Bangladesh (2009), amongst its examples of reform.122 The UNHCR’s #iBelong campaign to end statelessness by 2024 has supported and highlighted measures on various levels (legislative, administrative, practical) across the region.123 At the ‘High-Level Segment’ to commemorate the half-way point of the campaign in 2019, seven states in Central Asia and the Asia Pacific made pledges to implement initiatives to address statelessness.124 Yet, as many of the chapters in this volume reveal, there are both ongoing and emerging challenges to addressing statelessness, as well as reasons for optimism as to prospects for reform. UNHCR, ’Background Note on Gender Equality, Nationality Laws and Statelessness 2022’ (4 March 2022) <www.refworld.org/docid/6221ec1a4.html> accessed 31 August 2023. 123 The UNHCR publishes several campaign updates a year to promote achievements and provide information about the implementation of the Global Action Plan, alongside the issuing of Good Practice Papers on each action item, UNHCR, ‘Publications’ (IBelong 2023) <www.unhcr.org/ibelong/publications/> accessed 18 September 2023. See also a recent update on the #IBelong campaign from UNHCR EXCOM, ‘Statelessness (Including an Update on the #IBelong Campaign)’ (24 May 2023) UN Doc EC/74/SC/CRP.12 <www .unhcr.org/sites/default/files/2023-05/CRP-12-Statelessness-87-SC-English.pdf> accessed 18 September 2023. 124 These are Indonesia, Philippines, Thailand in the Asia-Pacific and Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan in Central Asia, UNHCR, ‘High-Level Segment on Statelessness: Results and Highlights’ (May 2020) 19 <www.unhcr.org/ibelong/highlevel-segment-on-statelessness-results-and-highlights/> accessed 13 September 2023. 122 https://doi.org/10.1017/9781009399555.003 Published online by Cambridge University Press