(3) Role of UNHCR 116. UNHCR assists States in a variety of ways to fulfil its statelessness mandate.69 Drawing on its comparative knowledge of statelessness determination procedures in a range of States and its own experience making statelessness and nationality assessments, UNHCR can advise on both the development of new statelessness determination procedures and the enhancement of existing ones.70 In addition, UNHCR can facilitate enquiries made by statelessness determination authorities with authorities of other States and can act as an information resource on nationality laws and practices.71 Access for applicants to UNHCR also plays a significant role in ensuring the fairness of determination procedures. Finally, UNHCR may conduct statelessness determination itself at an individual and/or group level if necessary. (4) Exploring solutions abroad 117. Some applicants in statelessness determination procedures may have a realistic prospect of admission or readmission in another State, in some cases through the acquisition or reacquisition of nationality. These cases, which tend to arise where individuals are seeking statelessness determination in a migratory context, raise the issue of cooperation between States to find the most appropriate solution. Efforts to secure admission or readmission may be justified but these need to take place subsequent to a determination of statelessness. Suspension of the determination proceedings, however, is not appropriate in this context as recognition of the individual’s statelessness is necessary to ensure full protection of the rights to which he or she is entitled. (5) A  dditional procedural and evidentiary safeguards for specific groups 42 118. Certain groups may face particular challenges in establishing their nationality status. Age, gender and diversity considerations may require that some individuals are afforded additional procedural and evidentiary 69 In particular, under paragraph 4 of Resolution 61/137 the UN General Assembly. Please see paragraph 4 above and Annex IV. 70 As set out in UNHCR Executive Committee Conclusion 106 (LVII) of 2006, note 666 above, the Executive Committee has requested UNHCR “to actively disseminate information and, where appropriate, train government counterparts on appropriate mechanisms for identifying, recording, and granting a status to stateless persons” and “to provide technical advice to States Parties on the implementation of the 1954 Convention so as to ensure consistent implementation of its provisions” (paragraphs (t) and (x)). Please see also Annex V. 71 States are also advised to consult nationality databases available through sources such as UNHCR’s Refworld database, www.refworld.org, or regional sources such as the European Union Democracy Observer (EUDO) nationality law database, http://eudo-citizenship.eu/databases, and the Africa Governance Monitoring and Advocacy Project (AfriMAP), www.afrimap.org

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