272 Southwick international statelessness conventions, it has ratified the Convention on the Rights of Child (CRC), which guarantees protection and a set of rights for children regardless of status,52 and requires that children be registered immediately after birth and possess the right to acquire a nationality. These rights must be implemented ‘in particular where the child would otherwise be stateless.’53 With respect to other states, the principle of non-refoulement forbids the expulsion of refugees to a country where they would be persecuted.54 Under the UN Charter and the UDHR, states ‘have pledged themselves to achieve, in co-operation with the United Nations, the promotion of universal respect for and observance of human rights and fundamental freedoms.’55 ASEAN Member States have pledged to assist persons in distress at sea, work jointly to prevent and combat human trafficking, as well as protect women and children from discrimination and violence and ensure survivors’ access to education and health care.56 Moreover, under the 52 53 54 55 56 Res 217 A(III) (UDHR), Arts. 1-2 (equality and nondiscrimination), 13 (movement), 14 (asylum), 15 (nationality), and 18 (thought and religion). Convention on the Rights of the Child (adopted 20 November 1989, entered into force 2 September 1990) 1577 UNTS 3, Art. 2. Ibid, art. 7. See also Convention on the Reduction of Statelessness (adopted 30 August 1961, entered into force 13 December 1975) 989 UNTS 175, Art. 1(1) (Reduction of Statelessness Convention) (‘A contracting state shall grant its nationality to a person born in its territory who would otherwise be stateless.’). Myanmar has also ratified the Convention on the Elimination of Discrimination against Women (adopted 18 December 1979, entered into force 3 September 1981) 1249 UNTS 13 (CEDAW Convention). Article 9 grants women equal rights with men to nationality and with respect to nationality of their children. Article 3 obligates States to take ‘all appropriate measures’ to ensure the ‘full development and advancement of women.’ Technically, this principle applies to states that have ratified the UN Convention relating to the Status of Refugees (adopted 28 July 1951, entered into force 22 April 1954) 189 UNTS 137 (Refugees Convention), which neither Bangladesh, Indonesia, Thailand, nor Malaysia has signed. It also requires that the individuals in question have actually obtained refugee status. However, the notion of non-refoulement has gained such universal acceptance that situations in which states refuse likely refugees from entering their countries are often decried. Universal Declaration of Human Rights (n 51) (adopted 10 December 1948 UNGA Res 217 A(III) (UDHR), United Nations Charter (n 50) Preamble (Member States resolve to combine their efforts to achieve fundamental human rights, tolerance, international peace, and social progress). See generally ASEAN Heads of State/Government, ‘ASEAN Declaration on Cooperation in Search and Rescue of Persons in Distress at Sea’ (Hanoi, 27 October 2010); ASEAN Heads tilburg law review 19 (2014) 261-275