UNHCR’s recent mapping study provides for the first time, invaluable in-depth analysis of statelessness in Austria. 5 This report aims to build on this with a specific focus on childhood statelessness in Austria, highlighting where gaps in law and policy remain, and making recommendations for reform to bring Austrian legislation in line with international standards under the 1954 and 1961 Conventions. The first section of the report provides a brief overview of the national and international context regarding statelessness in Austria, including how statelessness is defined in Austrian law and relevant international instruments. The right to nationality is an important aspect of international law and being stateless can have a detrimental impact on the realisation of basic human rights, such as the right to equal treatment before the law, and to work, education and health.6 The second section, therefore, outlines how nationality is regulated in Austria, identifying shortcomings in Austrian nationality law. Statelessness at birth continues to be a persistent problem in Austria.7 To address this, it is vital to guarantee the protection of all children from statelessness in both law and practice. In the third section, the report evaluates the current position of children in Austria who may fall into specific categories for the acquisition of nationality such as adoption, surrogacy or foundlings; and makes recommendations for reform to bring Austrian law in line with international legal standards. The fourth section discusses the link between birth registration and nationality, addressing barriers to birth registration and documentation in the Austrian context, analysing nationality and civil law, and making recommendations for access to birth registration as an essential tool for combating statelessness. The final section summarises the report’s conclusions and makes key recommendations towards ending childhood statelessness in Austria. 5 UNHCR, “Mapping Statelessness in Austria” (January 2017), http://www.refworld.org/docid/58b6e5b14.html (accessed 1 February 2017) 6 UNHCR, “Handbook on Protection of Stateless Persons” (30 June 2014), http://www.refworld.org/docid/53b676aa4.html (accessed 14 January 2017), p. 1 7 UNHCR, “Mapping Statelessness in Austria” (January 2017), p. 83 04 | No child should be stateless in Austria