BACKGROUND NOTE ON GENDER EQUALITY, NATIONALITY LAWS AND STATELESSNESS 2018 Background Note on Gender Equality, Nationality Laws and Statelessness 2018 8 March 2018 COVER PHOTOGRAPH: Syrian refugees in the Bekaa Valley, Lebanon. Gender discrimination in nationality laws remains a leading cause of statelessness globally. Syria is one of the the 25 countries with nationality laws that prevent women from conferring their nationality to their children on an equal basis as men. © UNHCR/David Azia UNHCR statelessness@unhcr.org P.O. Box 2500 1211 Geneva 2 www.unhcr.org UNHCR | 8 March 2018 11