HOW CAN THE 1961 CONVENTION ASSIST STATES IN REDUCING STATELESSNESS?- B y applying the safeguards elaborated in the 1961 Convention wherever a person would be left stateless, States can prevent new cases of statelessness from arising. The 1961 Convention’s provisions are, however, equally relevant to the task of reducing statelessness. It does this in two ways. First, prevention of statelessness leads to a reduction of statelessness over time. Second, when bringing their domestic legislation into line with the safeguards detailed in the 1961 Convention in order to prevent future statelessness, States are encouraged to also use this opportunity to reduce statelessness. For example, States may apply newly introduced safeguards retroactively and accordingly allow for acquisition of nationality by stateless people. WHAT DOES THE 1961 CONVENTION ASK STATES TO DO?- T here are four main areas in which the 1961 Convention on the Reduction of Statelessness provides concrete and detailed safeguards to be implemented by States in order to prevent and reduce statelessness. UNHCR can offer technical support to help States ensure that these safeguards are reflected in their nationality legislation and practice. > Measures to avoid statelessness among children Articles 1 to 4 principally concern the acquisition of nationality by children. States shall grant their nationality to children who would otherwise be stateless and have ties with them through either birth in the territory or descent. As a result, where children are born in the territory but acquire the nationality of a foreign parent, there is no obligation to grant nationality. Nationality shall either be granted at birth, by operation of law, or upon application. The 1961 Convention permits States to make the conferral of nationality subject to certain conditions, such as habitual residence for a certain period of time. Under Article 2, States shall grant nationality to foundlings (children found on the territory). > Measures to avoid statelessness due to loss or renunciation of nationality Articles 5 to 7 prevent statelessness in later life by requiring prior possession or assurance of acquiring another nationality before a nationality can be lost or renounced. Two exceptions to this rule are provided for: States may withdraw nationality from naturalized persons who subsequently take up long-term residence abroad for more than seven consecutive years and from nationals who 4 Preventing and R e d u c i n g S t a t e l e ss n e ss