BACKGROUND NOTE ON GENDER EQUALITY, NATIONALITY LAWS AND STATELESSNESS 2019 Background Note on Gender Equality, Nationality Laws and Statelessness 2019 8 March 2019 Cover photograph: Syrian refugees in the Bekaa Valley, Lebanon. Gender discrimination in nationality laws remains a leading cause of statelessness globally. Syria is one of the 25 countries with nationality laws that prevent women from conferring their nationality to their children on an equal basis as men. © UNHCR / David Azia statelessness@unhcr.org P.O. Box 2500 1211 Geneva 2 www.unhcr.org UNHCR | 8 March 2019 11