KEY MESSAGES The right to a nationality is a fundamental human right. Statelessness is the most extreme violation of this right. It is often the result of discrimination; against women, ethnic minorities and other groups – in violation of human rights standards. Nationality is a gateway through which people can access rights and services. Without it, the stateless often struggle to enjoy quality education and health care; safe, secure and dignified work; inheritance and ownership of property; and basic banking, mobile phone and other services. The rights of stateless persons are human rights. UN human rights standards must apply to all stateless persons. The Universal Periodic Review (UPR) provides a distinct opportunity to address the violations suffered by stateless persons and communities and to promote the realisation of the right to a nationality for all. It is a mechanism through which all UN Member States are subjected to a review of their performance across all human rights. Statelessness issues are increasingly being raised within the UPR. In total, 773 recommendations relevant to statelessness and nationality issues were issued to states over the course of the first and second UPR Cycles. 162 countries received at least one recommendation relevant to nationality and statelessness during the 1st and 2nd UPR Cycles. These recommendations were made by 107 different countries. A diverse array of themes received attention, including recommendation addressing different root causes of statelessness and recommendations relating to the human rights consequences of statelessness. The UPR is a state-driven process: only states can make recommendations. However, engagement and advocacy by civil society actors can make a real difference to the outcomes of the UPR, by helping to strengthen both the relevance and utility of recommendations issued as well as the impact of the UPR on the ground. UPR advocacy by civil society actors should ideally complement – and be complemented by – national advocacy and engagement with different regional and international mechanisms, including the UN treaty bodies. 2