the right to a nationality, statelessness and its human rights impacts in various countries around the world.2 4. The Global Campaign for Equal Nationality Rights (the Global Campaign) is a coalition of international and national organisations that promotes gender equality in nationality laws, so that women and men can confer, acquire, change and retain their nationality on an equal basis. The Campaign has a Steering Committee comprising Equality Now, Equal Rights Trust, the Institute on Statelessness and Inclusion, UNHCR and Women’s Refugee Commission. The Campaign was launched in June 2014 at a Side Event at the 26th Session of the Human Rights Council in Geneva, and has conducted numerous international advocacy activities to encourage states that still maintain gender discriminatory nationality laws to reform their laws and bring them into compliance with international human rights standards.3 The Universal Periodic Review of the Syrian Arab Republic under the First Cycle (2011) 5. Syria was first subject to the Universal Periodic Review on 7 October 2011, at Session 12 of the First Cycle. At this review, there were no recommendations specifically related to gender discrimination in Syria’s nationality law or resultant statelessness. However there were various recommendations more generally related to Syria’s treaty obligations including under the CRC and CEDAW, which are relevant. Following are some examples: “Continue to harmonise its domestic laws with the international human rights conventions to which it is party, in line with democratic principles and fundamental freedoms and equality.” Recommendation made by Indonesia and accepted by Syria. “Bring national laws fully into line with its obligations under ICCPR, CEDAW, CAT and CRC.” Recommendation made by the Maldives and accepted by Syria. “Immediately adopt and implement necessary legislative and administrative measures to promote a greater inclusion of women in the country's public and political life, ensuring that they effectively participate in the decision-making process, and lift the reservations made to the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women.” Recommendation made by Mexico and accepted by Syria. “Incorporate into domestic law and enact the provisions of the international instruments, particularly CAT, CEDAW and CRC.” Recommendation made by Poland and accepted by Syria. Syria’s International Obligations 6. Syria is a state party to the Convention on the Elimination of Discrimination against Women (CEDAW), which calls on State parties to ensure that women and men have equal ability to acquire, change and retain their nationality and to confer their nationality to children and spouses.4 2 For more information about the Institute, see www.InstituteSI.org 3 For more information about the Global Campaign, see http://equalnationalityrights.org/ 4 In its recent General Comment No. 32 on the gender-related dimensions of refugee status, asylum, nationality and statelessness of women, the Committee confirmed that Article 9 extends an obligation to ensure equality between men and women in the ability to confer their nationality to their spouse. CEDAW/C/GC/32, available at: http://www.refworld.org/docid/54620fb54.html