. Identification re ention and reduction o state essness Enhancing access to civil registration and documentation Most States keep track of the persons living in their territory through civil registries.80 Access to civil registration and documentation is often the precondition for being formally recognized as a national. While stateless persons may have legitimate ties to a State and may even have a nationality under the laws of the country, the challenge may lie in proving these ties in the absence of civil registration and documentation. In 2013, the UN Human Rights Council emphasized the importance of ensuring access to documentation that certifies nationality.81 According to UNHCR, at least 20% of all States have populations which are entitled to nationality under the law but cannot acquire documentary proof of nationality.82 Statelessness often results from costly, complex procedures and bureaucratic requirements for the acquisition or confirmation of nationality, and the issuance of relevant documentation that proves nationality. Procedures to obtain such documentation must therefore be accessible, affordable and implemented in a non-discriminatory manner. When such gaps are identified, the relevant authorities may seek technical advice from specialized agencies and legal experts on how they may be addressed. There are numerous ways for States to simplify and enhance access to civil registration and documentation. The UNHCR’s governing Executive Committee laid down in its 2013 Conclusion on civil registration that, (…) civil registration and documentation, especially birth registration as a proof of birth of a person, contribute to enhancing protection and the implementation of durable solutions, including by documenting links with countries of origin, (…) the lack of civil registration and related documentation makes persons vulnerable to statelessness and associated protection risks, and that birth registration is often essential to the reduction and prevention of statelessness, (…). 57