Table of contents 1 INTRODUCTION………………………………………………………………………………... 1 2 THE FUNDAMENTAL RIGHT TO A NATIONALITY……………………………………… 4 2.1 The right to a nationality………………………………………………………………………. 5 2.2 Prohibition of arbitrary deprivation of nationality and statelessness…………………….. 7 2.3 Arbitrary deprivation of nationality, statelessness and refugees…………………………. 13 3 ARBITRARY DEPRIVATION OF NATIONALITY IN THE JURISPRUDENCE OF INTERNATIONAL COURTS…………………………………………………………………….. 17 3.1 The Inter-America Court of Human Rights…………………………………………………. 18 3.2 The African Commission on Human and People’s Rights and the African Committee of Experts on the Rights and Welfare of the Child………………………………………………... 22 3.3 The European Court of Human Rights……………………………………………………… 26 3.4 The Court of Justice of the European Union………………………………………………… 31 4 ARBITRARY DEPRIVATION OF NATIONALITY IN THE JURISPRUDENCE OF DOMESTIC COURTS…………………………………………………………………………….. 33 4.1 The right to return and secure rights in the country of former habitual residence, and persecution………………………………………………………………………………………... 36 4.2 (Arbitrary) Deprivation of nationality and persecution………………………………….. 44 5 SUMMARY OF KEY FINDINGS ON THE INTERPRETATION OF ARTICLE 1A(2) OF THE 1951 CONVENTION…………………………………………………………………………….. 52 6 CONCLUSION………………………………………………………………………………… 54

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