Manila, Philippines | 18-19 November 2011 Introduction Statelessness profoundly affects the lives of an estimated 12 million people worldwide, including a significant number living in South East Asia. Statelessness can be seen as the failure to realise the right to a nationality and is often caused when other human rights are not realised, such as the right of a child to have his or her birth registered. Although stateless populations are often hidden and remain unidentified, it is clear that women and children are particularly vulnerable to statelessness. Statelessness often prevents the enjoyment of the full range of human rights, acting, for example, as a barrier that can stop children from accessing primary education or prevent women from accessing maternity healthcare. To help to address this complex challenge, the ASEAN Intergovernmental Commission of Human Rights (AICHR) and the Office for the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) co-hosted a Regional Workshop on Statelessness and the Rights of Women and Children in Manila, the Philippines from 18 to 19 November 2011. The participants from eight ASEAN Member States included Representatives to AICHR or their Designates, Government officials, national experts as well as UNHCR staff. The Workshop reviewed a number of the known situations of statelessness in the region, before considering the international legal framework that exists in the region. Various good practices adopted by ASEAN Member States to address statelessness were identified, with a particular focus on successful approaches that had been taken to prevent and reduce statelessness among women and children. In doing so, the Workshop built upon previous national and regional initiatives, including the Regional Expert Roundtable on Good Practices for the Identification, Prevention and Reduction of Statelessness and the Protection of Stateless Persons in South East Asia held in Bangkok in October 2010 co-hosted by the National Human Rights Commission of Thailand and UNHCR. This publication reflects the Summary Report issued by the Regional Workshop, highlighting good practices that have emerged among ASEAN Member States, and recommendations to consider for further concrete actions. First of all, it describes some of the causes and consequences of statelessness which can affect anyone regardless of age or gender. Secondly, a summary of the discussions at the workshop on statelessness and the applicable international human rights law framework is set out. Thirdly, the report provides suggestions of how 5