nationality or those who are undocumented. The intent of the surveys was to provide general information on the causes of statelessness and figures on the populations surveyed. They however did not attempt to identify every single person at risk of statelessness in these regions. The findings of the surveys were published and shared with local officials and experts dealing with statelessness and humanitarian issues during the spring and summer of 2009. A lack of clear guidelines and identification procedures for stateless persons leads to an inaccurate assessment of the statelessness situation in the country. Resulting in an inability to properly document and account for stateless individuals and guarantee their right to acquire a nationality, as is set out in national legislation and under international law. In a recent session, the Working Group underlined the need to introduce specific status determination measures, which could be utilized to address the situation of undocumented individuals whose foreign passports have expired and are not renewable. The process would involve amending existing laws and/or creating new ones in order to introduce an identification and documentation process for stateless persons; it would however be lengthy and cumbersome and require parliamentary approval. In an effort to remedy the lack of status determination laws, the Working Group began exploring the possibility of adopting a bylaw, which would further elaborate on the process and procedures for formal recognition of stateless persons under the 2008 Residence Permit Regulations and enable territorial subdivisions in the Department of Internal Affairs to identify stateless individuals. Such an approach would not only address the situation of the existing stateless population, but would also allow for a smooth transition from statelessness to acquisition of Kyrgyz nationality as guaranteed by the 2007 Citizenship Law. 1.4 International and regional instruments In the context of international treaty law relating to statelessness, the Kyrgyz Republic is neither party to the 1954 nor the 1961 Conventions. Nevertheless, it is party to a number of other international human rights treaties which refer the right to nationality including: - the 1966 International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights including its Protocols 1 and 2; 1969 International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination; the 1989 Convention on the Rights of the Child; the 1957 Convention on the Nationality of Married Women; the 1979 Convention on the Elimination of all Forms of Discrimination against Women; the 1966 International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights; the 984 Convention against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment; and the 2000 Optional Protocol to the Convention on the Rights of the Child on the Sale of Children, Child Prostitution and Child Pornography; the 2000 Optional Protocol to the Convention on the Rights of the Child on the involvement of children in armed conflicts. At least six bilateral or regional instruments have influence on national legislation: - The treaty between the Kyrgyz Republic and the Russian Federation on Legal Status of Permanent Residents (13 October 1995); Small Changes ‫ ـ‬Big Gains: An Action Plan to Prevent and Reduce Statelessness in the Kyrgyz Republic 56