. Identification re ention and reduction o state essness large-scale statelessness, as it does not require the individuals concerned to take any action to acquire a nationality. However, procedures need to be in place to ensure that these individuals can acquire documents that prove they are nationals. Other States have used non-automatic but facilitated acquisition procedures. These include procedures where nationality is only acquired upon application (but where granting nationality is non-discretionary) or naturalization (which is normally a discretionary procedure). Non-automatic procedures are generally less effective in resolving statelessness because they require the person concerned to apply for nationality. For various reasons, including lack of information about the right to apply and related procedures, or owing to problems of physical access or poverty, some stateless persons may not be able to benefit from such procedures. In addition, naturalization procedures usually give government authorities the discretion to reject applicants and may, in some cases, also lead to unreasonable delays in the granting of nationality. Most successor States to the Soviet Union have included facilitated naturalization or acquisition procedures in their nationality laws for former Soviet citizens with links to the country, but who did not become citizens automatically at the time of dissolution. Under the 1954 Convention, States have an obligation to facilitate the naturalization of stateless persons (Article 32). This may be achieved, for example, by reducing or waiving residence, income and language requirements for applicants and by exempting them from fees or the obligation to provide documentary evidence. The 1997 European Convention on Nationality also establishes an explicit obligation to facilitate the naturalization of stateless persons.99 Regardless of whether States are party to either of these Conventions, the principle of non-discrimination must be respected with regard to the criteria and procedures for naturalization. The effectiveness of naturalization and other nationality processes generally requires that adequate information and counselling is available to stateless persons and that they have effective access to procedures.100 In practice, the operational involvement of organizations and civil society, through information and citizenship campaigns or legal aid programmes, has been particularly useful. 70