A/HRC/13/34 United Nations General Assembly Distr.: General 14 December 2009 Original: English Human Rights Council Thirteenth session Agenda item 3 Annual report of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights and reports of the Office of the High Commissioner and the Secretary-General Human rights and arbitrary deprivation of nationality Report of the Secretary-General Summary The present report recalls the legal framework applicable to the right to nationality and addresses the issue of the prohibition of arbitrary deprivation of nationality. It emphasizes that States have an obligation to implement fully the principle of nondiscrimination, in particular when deciding on issues relating to the acquisition and retention of a nationality. It also recalls the general obligation of States to prevent statelessness. Lastly, it addresses the question of the right to a nationality and arbitrary deprivation of nationality in the context of State succession. GE.09-17512 (E) 060110