There is some overlap between UNHCR’s statelessness mandate and its refugee mandate because stateless refugees are protected under the provisions of the 1951 Convention. When refugee status ceases, though, individuals may remain stateless and therefore of concern to UNHCR. UNHCR’s statelessness mandate also applies to stateless individuals who are internally displaced. In 2006, the General Assembly urged UNHCR to continue to work “in regard to identifying stateless persons, preventing and reducing statelessness, and protecting stateless persons”.43 These four areas govern UNHCR’s statelessness-related efforts today. The identification of statelessness includes continued efforts to identify populations who are stateless or of undetermined nationality; improved sharing and collecting of statistical data on these populations; the undertaking and sharing of research on the causes, scope and consequences of statelessness “so as to promote increased understanding of the nature and scope of the problem of statelessness, to identify stateless populations and to understand reasons which led to statelessness, all of which would serve as a basis for crafting strategies to addressing the problem”.44 UNHCR’s mandate is not limited to addressing cases of statelessness which have already occurred. It also includes prevention to identify and address risks of statelessness which may affect populations, notably by means of support for needed legislative changes. In this context, UNHCR provides notably technical and advisory services pertaining to the preparation and implementation of nationality legislation, and promotes accession to the 1961 Convention. Moreover, UNHCR encourages Member States to reduce statelessness, inter alia by pleading for the adoption of “measures to allow the integration of persons in situations of protracted statelessness”, for “the right of every child to acquire a nationality, particularly where the child might otherwise be stateless”, and for the dissemination of “information regarding access to citizenship”.45 Lastly, UNHCR has a role regarding the protection of stateless persons, to help them to exercise their rights. It promotes accession to the 1954 Convention and is encouraged to “implement programmes […] which contribute to protecting and assisting stateless persons”.46 2011 marks the 50th anniversary of the 1961 Convention on the Reduction of Statelessness. With this important event and bearing the same four areas in mind, UNHCR is placing statelessness issues at the centre of its advocacy work and intensifying efforts towards States’ accession to the international statelessness instruments.47 The present study was initiated as part of these endeavours. of their demonstrated interest to find a solution to refugee problems. See especially Executive Committee Conclusions No. 78 and 106, available at: http://www.unhcr.org/3d4ab3ff2.html. 43 UN General Assembly resolution A/RES/61/137 (19 December 2006). 44 UNHCR, Conclusion on the identification, prevention and reduction of statelessness and to further the protection of stateless persons, 6 October 2006, N° 106 (LVII) - 2006, paragraph c, available at: http://www.unhcr.org/3d4ab3ff2.html. 45 Ibid., para. p to r. 46 Ibid., para. v. 47 UNHCR, Statement by Ms. Janet Lim, UNHCR Assistant High Commissioner High Level Segment of the 16th Session of the United Nations Human Rights Council, 2 March 2011, available at: http://www.unhcr.org/refworld/docid/4d762e352.html. See also UNHCR, Commemoration of the Anniversary of the 100th Session of the Human Rights Committee (Statement by UNHCR), 2010, available at: http://www.unhcr.org/refworld/docid/4cd798752.html. in the United Kingdom 27