• demonstrates a commitment to human rights and humanitarian standards. • helps to prevent displacement by addressing its causes. • helps to develop international law relating to the acquisition of nationality and to maintaining an effective nationality. • helps UNHCR to mobilize international support for adhering to the principles contained in the Conventions; and • helps to resolve nationality-related disputes. How does a State accede to the Conventions? States may accede to the 1954 and/or 1961 Conventions at any time by depositing an instrument of accession with the Secretary-General of the United Nations. The instrument of accession must be signed by the Head of State or Government or Foreign Minister and then be transmitted through the Representative of the country to the United Nations Headquarters in New York. (Samples of accession instruments are provided in Annex 3.) Can a State make reservations to the Conventions? In acknowledgment of the specific conditions that may apply in individual States at the time of ratification or accession, the Conventions allow Contracting States to make reservations to some of the Conventions’ provisions, except those provisions deemed fundamental by the original Contracting States: 1954 Convention relating to the Status of Stateless Persons: reservations are permitted except on Articles 1 (definition/exclusion clauses), 3 (non-discrimination), 4 (freedom of religion), 16 (1) (access to courts), and 33 to 42 (Final Clauses). 1961 Convention on the Reduction of Statelessness: reservations are permitted only concerning Articles 11 (agency), 14 (referral of disputes to the International Court of Justice), or 15 (territories for which the Contracting State is responsible). A limited number of reservations is permitted for each Convention. How do parliamentarians ensure that the Conventions are implemented effectively? National legislation must be adopted or amended to allow the provisions of the two Conventions to be implemented effectively. UNHCR can offer its expert advice to States to help ensure that each State’s particular legal tradition and resources will accommodate its international obligations. What practical steps can parliamentarians take to encourage their governments to accede to the Conventions? • Determine whether your State is Party to either or both of the Conventions. • If your State has not yet acceded to these instruments, consider posing a written or oral question to the government or adopting a private members’ bill. 50