II. III. IV. V. the parents' nationality, regardless of whether the child is qualified to apply for that foreign citizenship. A similar situation arises where a child is born to unknown foreign parents. In other circumstances, the child's citizenship becomes dependent on the election by the parents. Due to factors such as high adolescent birth rates and the general lack of knowledge and participation by parents in the citizenship registration process, the current framework contains unnecessary risk of children being rendered stateless for circumstances outside the person's control. A child born to stateless parents will only acquire Lao citizenship if the parents are "integrated into the Lao society and culture". Similarly, a Lao citizen may be subject to having his or her citizenship withdrawn for "dishonouring" the citizenship.34 Without appropriate safeguards, these qualitative measures are prone to abuse by authorities leading to unnecessary and enforced statelessness of persons, particularly where the person is already vulnerable by virtue of his or her status as a stateless person. A person forfeits his or her Lao citizenship by living outside of Lao PDR for seven years (or not maintaining legal connection with Lao PDR for ten years).35 This article would appear to apply regardless of whether the person has acquired any foreign citizenship. A person is required to attend a relevant administrative office in relation to matters regarding citizenship.36 Due to the high proportion of the population living in regional and remote areas, this may be a practical impediment for many. Stateless or foreign individuals must satisfy 11 separate criteria in applying for Lao citizenship.37 Many of these criteria are unnecessary, are difficult to satisfy (particularly for persons who are already vulnerable by virtue of their status as a stateless person), or may be prone to abuse by authorities without appropriate safeguards. Such criteria may lead to persons being unable to escape from their status as a stateless person. These include: i. being 18 years of age or more; ii. speaking, reading and writing fluently in Lao; iii. possessing evidence of social and cultural integration, and knowledge of and respect for Lao traditions; iv. being in good health, not suffering from any serious infectious disease or drug addiction; v. participating in the protection and development of the country; vi. having established permanent residence in Lao PDR for ten years (reduced to three years for stateless persons);38 and vii. having professions and qualifications and a stable economic status. Access to birth registration 34. As detailed above, statistics show that a quarter of all children under 5 were not registered between 2011 and 2012. This number has remained stable over the years, and statistics from the Government of the Lao People’s Democratic Republic show that 73% of all children under five years of age being registered in 2017, which leaves a significant proportion of children unregistered.39 34 Ibid 27, article 19. Ibid, article 20. 36 Ibid, article 16. 37 Ibid, article 14. 38 Ibid, article 15. 39 Statistics from Lao People’s Democratic Republic, Ministry of Health and Lao Statistics Bureau, Lao Social Indicator 35 8