The Statelessness Index The Statelessness Index (https://index.statelessness.eu/) is an online comparative tool developed and maintained by the European Network on Statelessness (ENS),1 that assesses European countries’ law, policy, and practice on the protection of stateless people and on the prevention and reduction of statelessness against international norms and good practice. ENS has worked with its members to research and compile comparative information on statelessness in 27 countries in Europe so far, with some further countries to be added in future annual updates. For information on the Statelessness Index methodology, including how country data is collected and analysed, see: (https://index.statelessness.eu/about/methodology). How is deprivation of nationality assessed in the Index? The Statelessness Index uses the following set of benchmarks to assess countries’ law, policy, and practice on deprivation of nationality. These benchmarks are drawn from international and regional human rights standards, soft law, relevant reports – including the Principles on Deprivation of Nationality as a National Security Measure2 – and consultation with experts. The benchmarks and their sources can be viewed in more detail in the ‘List of norms and good practice’ available on the Statelessness Index website (https://index.statelessness.eu/ about/methodology). 1. States should not render any person stateless through deprivation of nationality. Where provisions for deprivation of nationality exist, these should be interpreted narrowly and in accordance with international law. 2. Deprivation of nationality must be provided for by law, necessary, carried out in pursuance of a legitimate aim and proportionate to such aim, and in accordance with procedural safeguards. 3. Acts of deprivation of nationality must be subject to judicial scrutiny and the person concerned has the right to a fair trial or hearing. 4. States must not directly or indirectly discriminate against a person or group of people, in law or practice, on any ground prohibited under international law. Each State is also bound by the principle of non-discrimination between its nationals. 5. Renunciation and other forms of voluntary loss of nationality shall not result in statelessness. The Index assessment for each country aims to reflect overall performance on deprivation of nationality across the five benchmarks. The country examples highlighted in this briefing are illustrative and, given performance varies both within and across the different benchmarks, they do not necessarily reflect the country’s performance and consequent assessment on deprivation of nationality overall. All sources for the assessments and examples presented in this briefing can be found in the Statelessness Index country surveys. The Statelessness Index data is updated on an annual basis, so the overall assessment may change from year to year. This briefing was published in July 2021, based on Index data which is accurate as of January 2021.