c) Persons with respect to whom there is serious reason for considering that: - they have committed a crime against peace, a war crime, or a crime against humanity; - they have committed a serious non-political crime outside the country of their residence prior to their admission to that country; or - they have been guilty of acts contrary to the purposes and principles of the United Nations. 3. Eligibility The decision as to whether a person is entitled to the benefits of this Convention is taken by each Contracting State in accordance with its own established procedures and may be made subject to the grant of lawful residence. UNHCR is available to play an advisory role in these procedures if requested in view of its experience with issues relating to statelessness and nationality. 4. Provisions relating to the status of stateless persons The Convention contains provisions regarding the stateless person’s rights and obligations pertaining to their legal status in the country of residence. These rights include access to courts, property rights and freedom to practise their religion. Obligations include conformity to the laws and regulations of the country. The Convention further addresses a variety of matters which have an important effect on daily life, such as gainful employment, public education, labour legislation and social security. Contracting States are encouraged to accord stateless persons lawfully resident on their territory a standard of treatment comparable, in some instances, to that accorded to nationals of the State or otherwise to aliens generally in the same circumstances. 5. Identity and travel documents The Convention stipulates that a stateless person lawfully staying in the territory of a Contracting State should be issued a travel document. The issuance of a travel document does not imply a grant of nationality, does not alter the status of the individual more generally, and does not grant a right to diplomatic protection or confer an obligation of such protection on the authorities. These documents are, however, particularly important to stateless persons in facilitating travel to other countries for purposes of study, employment, health or immigration. In accordance with the Schedule to the Convention, each Contracting State undertakes to recognise the validity of travel documents issued by other Contracting States. UNHCR is ready to offer technical advice on the issuance of such documents. The Convention also stipulates that Contracting States shall issue identity papers to any stateless person in their territory (i.e. regardless of residence status or whether their presence in the State is lawful) who does not possess a valid travel document. 6. Expulsion Stateless persons are not to be expelled save on grounds of national security or public order. Expulsions are subject to due process of law unless there are compelling reasons of national security. The Final Act indicates that non-refoulement in relation to danger of persecution is a generally accepted principle. The drafters, therefore, did not feel it necessary to enshrine this in the articles of a Convention geared towards regulating the status of de jure stateless persons. 37 Small Changes ‫ ـ‬Big Gains: An Action Plan to Prevent and Reduce Statelessness in the Kyrgyz Republic