Bangladesh recommended that Syria “strengthen efforts to further promote empowerment of women”68), and the Republic of Korea recommended that Syria “promptly undertake measures to address allegations relating to (…), violence against women and girls”,69 a phenomenon that is exacerbated by the prevalence of gender discriminatory nationality laws.70 Syria accepted all these recommendations.71 7. In the second cycle, during the 26th session, Syria received two recommendations relevant to nationality: Czechia recommended that Syria “conduct a review of the personal status law and other relevant laws, which will remove the provisions that are discriminatory towards women, such as those not granting them guardianship of their children, disabling them from travelling on their own with their children or not allowing them to transfer their citizenship to their children”.72 Namibia recommended that Syria “amend the citizenship law of 1969, which prevents women from granting citizenship to their children, to ensure women’s right to grant citizenship to their children”.73 Syria accepted both of these recommendations. 8. In the third cycle, during the 40th session, Syria received four recommendations related to nationality: Iceland recommended that Syria “Withdraw all reservations to the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women, including those to articles 2 and 9, and amend national laws accordingly”74 (Article 9 obliges gender-equal nationality rights), which was noted by Syria. Syria accepted Sweden’s recommendation that Syria “Amend the provisions in the Personal Status Law and the Citizenship Law that are discriminatory against women, specifically in the areas of marriage, divorce, inheritance, marital property and the granting of citizenship to children.”75 Norway recommended that Syria “amend its citizenship laws to ensure Syrian citizenship for the children of Syrian women, including children born abroad, in line with the Convention on the Rights of the Child,”76 which was also accepted by Syria. Cote d’Ivoire recommended that Syria “Ratify the Convention relating to the Status of Stateless Persons, and the 1951 Convention relating to the Status of Refugees and the 1967 Protocol thereto,”77 which was rejected by Syria. 68 Human Rights Council, ‘Report of the Working Group on the Universal Periodic Review on the Syrian Arab Republic,’ A/HRC/19/11 (1st cycle, 24 January 2012), Recommendation 100.35. 69 Human Rights Council, ‘Report of the Working Group on the Universal Periodic Review on the Syrian Arab Republic,’ A/HRC/19/11 (1st cycle, 24 January 2012), Recommendation 102.8. 70 Global Campaign for Equal Nationality Rights, ‘Ending Gender-Based Violence Requires Equal Citizenship’, September 2020, Available at: https://equalnationalityrights.org/images/zdocs/Impact-of-Gender-Discriminationin-Nationality-Laws-on-Gender-Based-Violence.pdf 71 For a full list of recommendations relating to gender equality, see Annex 1. 72 Human Rights Council, ‘Report of the Working Group on the Universal Periodic Review on the Syrian Arab Republic,’ A/HRC/34/5 (2nd cycle, 27 December 2016), Recommendation 109.91. 73 Human Rights Council, ‘Report of the Working Group on the Universal Periodic Review on the Syrian Arab Republic,’ A/HRC/34/5 (2nd cycle, 27 December 2016), Recommendation 109.90. 74 Human Rights Council, ‘Report of the Working Group on the Universal Periodic Review on the Syrian Arab Republic,’ A/HRC/50/6 (3rd cycle, 31 March 2022), Recommendation 133.13. 75 Human Rights Council, ‘Report of the Working Group on the Universal Periodic Review on the Syrian Arab Republic,’ A/HRC/50/6 (3rd cycle, 31 March 2022), Recommendation 133.244. 76 Human Rights Council, ‘Report of the Working Group on the Universal Periodic Review on the Syrian Arab Republic,’ A/HRC/50/6 (3rd cycle, 31 March 2022), Recommendation 133.248. 77 Human Rights Council, ‘Report of the Working Group on the Universal Periodic Review on the Syrian Arab Republic,’ A/HRC/50/6 (3rd cycle, 31 March 2022), Recommendation 133.17. 16