III. GUIDING QUESTIONS FOR THE IDENTIFICATION OF STATELESS PERSONS IN DETENTION The following guiding questions can be addressed during various stages of engagement with a person in detention. Such stages may include the preparatory or follow-up phase to a visit, interviews during visits with the individual and regular dialogue with the authorities. Not all questions will be applicable to the individual’s situation and in some cases more than one interview may be necessary. If the visiting entity is unable to undertake multiple visits, the answers to the guiding questions in brown and bold may help taking the first step towards identifying persons who may be stateless. Preparation of the visit To prepare a visit to a detention centre where persons who may be stateless can be found, the following questions related to statelessness should be considered: ņņ Is the country a State Party to the 1954 Convention relating to the Status of Stateless Persons (1954 Convention)?20 ņņ Does the country have a statelessness determination procedure in place? If yes, who is responsible for carrying out the procedure? Does the country explicitly recognize statelessness as a protection ground and issue a residence permit? If not, does the country refer persons who may be stateless to UNHCR? 20 Where a State is party to the 1954 Convention, the stateless person is entitled to a number of rights, including a right to administrative assistance (Article 25), a right to identity and travel documents (Articles 27 and 28) and exempts them from reciprocity requirements (Article 7). The 1954 Convention does not establish a right for stateless persons to acquire the nationality of a specific State. However, because stateless persons have no State to protect them, the Convention requires States Parties to facilitate the integration and naturalization of stateless persons as far as possible, for example by expediting and reducing the costs of naturalization proceedings for stateless persons. It is also implicit in the 1954 Convention that States must identify stateless persons so as to provide them appropriate treatment, including secure residence and a range of rights. A statelessness determination procedure is a mechanism to do so. A tool for their identification and enhanced protection 13