constitutional standards. Furthermore, by tackling statelessness in accordance with recognised human rights and humanitarian standards, states are helping to promote international stability and to combat displacement, including illegal and dangerous forms of migration such as trafficking. Tackling statelessness is also a way to promote domestic stability and security. By addressing statelessness within their territories, states can help to avert a volatile situation which could otherwise flare up to the detriment of all segments of society. Indeed, by countering the marginalisation which usually accompanies statelessness, states can promote a healthy, inclusive society and unleash the full economic potential of the population. The (re)integration of stateless individuals into mainstream society and the mainstream economy is an important tool towards boosting a state’s human capital. At the same time, addressing statelessness and fostering inclusion will help to alleviate the psychological strains experienced by these populations and counteract any negative effects such as isolation, depression, drug abuse or petty crime. Moreover, the recognition of rights or the attribution of nationality will not serve to create new or artificial ties but will consolidate real, existing links between stateless populations and concerned states – connections that have existed in some cases for several generations and which are already embedded in the identity and sense of belonging of the individuals themselves. Ways forward in addressing statelessness in the MENA region Much is already being done to tackle the problem of statelessness within the MENA region and there are numerous best practices which States, the UN and civil society may draw upon for further action. The civil society campaign to introduce gender equality in the enjoyment of nationality rights is a well-documented example of a carefully-tailored approach from which a number of key lessons have emerged. Among the success factors were: • • • • • the adoption of a clear vision and strategy of action in both the mid- and long term; the strengthening of the campaign through a dual national and regional focus which allowed political arguments against reform at the national level to be more readily addressed; the investment in comprehensive research in order to present a convincing case for reform; the effort taken to build broad coalitions, involving a diverse range of actors to engage all parties concerned in designing and implementing a solution; and achievement of extensive media coverage through the presentation of statistics, personal interest stories and the use of new media technologies. It is of interest to note that similar lessons have been learned in the context of other significant advances relating to statelessness in different parts of the world, such as in Sri Lanka, Ukraine, Nepal and Bangladesh. Nevertheless, in considering ways forward it is helpful not only to take into account relevant best practices but also to identify any potential hurdles. In the MENA region, efforts may be 28