Conclusion, List of Issues and Recommendations 25. In light of the Information contained in this submission, the Committee is urged to ask the Kingdom of Lesotho in its List of Issues and also in its Review: a. What further steps does the state intend to take to ensure that the births of all children born in Lesotho – particularly those born in rural areas - are registered, and this results in all children being guaranteed their enjoyment of the right to acquire a nationality? b. Having acknowledged in its report that the penalty for late birth registration serves as a disincentive, what steps are the state taking to amend the relevant legal provisions and to incentivise timely birth registration without penalising late birth registration? c. Have any measures been taken to reduce the costs of late registration and to educate persons on the administrative procedures related to birth registration, particularly in the absence of the parents? d. Does the state have any information to share in relation to the child’s right to acquire a nationality? If not, why does the state not maintain adequate information on this important issue? e. What further information can the state provide on the extent of statelessness, and childhood statelessness in particular in Lesotho? If no such information exists, what steps are being taken to address this information gap? f. What steps are being taken to address the lack of statistical data in relation to the child’s right to acquire a nationality and statelessness? g. How many times since its last CRC review, has the safeguard against statelessness in the Lesotho Citizenship Order been utilised to protect against childhood statelessness? During this same time, how many children have been denied the right to a nationality in Lesotho and been rendered stateless? h. On what basis does Lesotho justify discrimination against Basotho citizens born abroad and Mosotho women, both of which undermine the child’s right to acquire a nationality without discrimination? What steps have been taken to protect such children from statelessness? i. Why does Lesotho restrict citizenship applications from stateless persons to those who are over 18 years of age and lawfully in the country? How is this provision in the best interests of the child? j. On what basis does Lesotho not recognise the right of foundlings to nationality, in violation of Article 7 CRC? How is this policy in the best interests of the child?