coming from Germany of 10 February 1938 and the Additional Protocol to that Convention of 14
September 1939, to take the necessary steps as soon as possible to become parties thereto;
2. To urge States Members to refrain from taking any discriminatory measures affecting de jure or de
facto stateless persons in territories under their jurisdiction, and to improve the conditions of such
persons by providing them, through appropriate legislative or administrative action, with a legal status
inspired by the principles underlying the agreements enumerated in item 1 above;
3. To request the IRO, in accordance with those provisions in its Constitution relating to the political and
legal protection of refugees, to continue to use its good offices and to take whatever administrative
measures are required to secure the implementation of items I and 2 above.
The Secretary-General further recommends the Economic and Social Council:
4. A. To recognize the necessity of a convention, based on the agreements now in force, determining the
legal status of stateless persons as such, but excluding war criminals and such other categories of persons
as are specified in the convention.
B. To this end, to instruct either the Secretary-General in consultation with the Director-General of the
IRO and the administrative heads of the other specialized agencies concerned, or an ad hoc Committee
appointed by the Council, to prepare a draft convention including provisions concerning:
(a) The following subjects:
1. Personal status;
2. Rights formerly acquired;
3. Property rights;
4. The exercise of trades and professions;
5. Education;
6. Relief;
7. Social security;
8. The right to appear before the courts as plaintiff or defendant;
9. Exemption from reciprocity;
10. Taxation;
11. Military service;
(b) A travel document taking the place of a passport;
(c) The procurement of documents enabling stateless persons to perform various acts of civil and
administrative life;
5. To recognize the necessity of providing at an appropriate time permanent international machinery for
ensuring the protection of stateless persons.
1.3
Ad Hoc Committee on Statelessness and Related Problems
After considering the Study, ECOSOC adopted resolution 248 (IX) B of August 1949
providing for the appointment of an ad hoc Committee consisting of representatives of
thirteen Governments. The Committee’s task was to:
(a) Consider the desirability of preparing a revised and consolidated convention relating to the
international status of refugees and stateless persons and, if they consider such a course desirable, draft
the text of such a convention;
(b) Consider means of eliminating the problem of statelessness, including the desirability of requesting
the International Law Commission to prepare a study and make recommendations on this subject;
(c) Make any other suggestions they deem suitable for the solution of these problems, taking into
consideration the recommendations of the Secretary-General [in the Study of Statelessness.]
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