36. The risk of statelessness for such groups may increase of a result of other circumstances such as when girls in some cultures are not registered because the family would not take necessary administrative action for them or where children are born out of wedlock, particularly as a result of sexual exploitation and abuse. 37. For populations which are not otherwise of concern, UNHCR would only become engaged where it is likely in the specific context that nationality may be questioned, giving rise to a heightened risk of statelessness. Given their expertise in this (29) domain, such efforts need to be undertaken in partnership with UNICEF and UNFPA. Where the affected population is not made up of persons of concern or of a population at heightened risk, such as those mentioned above, UNHCR will generally not be the most appropriate agency to lead the efforts of the UN. Identity documentation 38. In order to address risks of statelessness arising from difficulties proving nationality, UNHCR sometimes needs to promote accessible procedures for issuance of nationality documentation. In practice, this may mean that in addition to advocacy, technical advice and capacity building, UNHCR may need to become operationally involved through information campaigns or assistance programmes helping persons at risk to avail themselves of documentation procedures. Assistance to determine nationality status 39. As a means of preventing statelessness, UNHCR may in certain circumstances need to provide assistance to States and individuals for determination of their nationality, in particular where an individual claims that he or she has acquired, or should have acquired, nationality under provisions implementing the 1961 Convention. This aspect is elaborated upon under “Addressing Individual Cases”. Promotion of accession to the 1961 Convention on the Reduction of Statelessness 40. Statelessness often results from differing approaches to acquisition, change and loss of nationality by States and the absence of basic safeguards in their national legislation. It is therefore an area regulated by international law in which (30) (31) commonly agreed standards are particularly important. The UN General Assembly and the Executive Committee have therefore encouraged States to consider accession to the 1961 Convention but also requested UNHCR to promote accession and implementation of the Convention. Achieving an increased number of accessions is a target under Global Strategic Priority 1.1. c. Reduction – seeking solutions for stateless populations 41. There are currently an estimated 12 million stateless persons worldwide. Available public domain population data on stateless populations around the world from UNHCR’s 2008 Global Trends report is contained in Annex I. A significant focus of UNHCR’s statelessness mandate is to reduce the magnitude of statelessness worldwide. Global Strategic Priority 1.3 sets a specific reduction target: at least 500,000 stateless people will have nationality granted or confirmed during 2010 and 2011. 42. Major statelessness situations are often linked to failure to include specific groups in the body of citizens at the time of independence, sometimes for discriminatory reasons. These situations are generally of a protracted nature. A particular focus since 2004 has been on finding definitive solutions to such protracted statelessness situations.(32) 29 Executive Committee Conclusions No. 106 (LVII) – 2006, para. (h) and No. 107 (LVIII) – 2007, para. (h). UNGA Resolution A/RES/64/127 of 18 December 2009, para. 4. 31 Executive Committee Conclusion No. 106 (LVII) – 2006, para. (n). 32 Executive Committee Conclusions No. 99 (LV) – 2004, para. (bb); No. 102 (LVI) – 2005, para. (y); No. 106 (LVII) – 2006, para. (o). 30 12