Acquisition of nationality through naturalization stateless Cambodian refugees residing in the former UNHCR camps in Binh Duong and Binh Phuoc provinces also acquired Vietnamese nationality through naturalization by the end of 2010.70 As the Vietnamese Government reviewed and approved naturalization applications from the camp-based applicants, UNHCR supported five micro projects through the Vietnamese Ministry of Labour, Invalids and Social Affairs (MOLISA) to promote the local integration of this group of new citizens. The projects covered the provision of vocational-training equipment and kindergarten education as well improvements to road infrastructure to ease travel between the camps in the provinces and Ho Chi Minh City. Law reform to prevent and reduce statelessness, including among Vietnamese women who marry foreigners In addition to seeking to reduce statelessness among former Cambodian refugees, the Vietnamese Government also resolved to address statelessness among Vietnamese women who had married foreigners. It aimed to do so by reforming its nationality law and incorporating a number of safeguards against statelessness. Throughout the workshops and meetings with the Vietnamese Government from 2006 to 2008, UNHCR raised awareness of international legal standards that contribute to the prevention and reduction of statelessness. With this information, the Vietnamese Ministry of Justice and Ministry of Foreign Affairs led a process in consultation with the Department of Consular Affairs, the Ministry of Public Security in the Department of Immigration and other local bodies to reform its 1998 nationality law. The revised 2008 Vietnamese Nationality Law entered into force on 1 July 2009.71 The 2008 Nationality Law introduced a number of improvements that are significant for the prevention of statelessness for all Vietnamese abroad, including Vietnamese women who marry foreigners. With the passage of the law, no longer will there be an automatic loss of Vietnamese nationality should a Vietnamese citizen acquire a second, foreign nationality. This eliminates the danger of rendering an individual stateless, should that 70 71 See UNHCR, Statelessness: Former refugees win citizenship, and now dream of home ownership, 15 September 2011, available at: http://www.unhcr.org/4e7204db6.html. Law on Vietnamese Nationality [Viet Nam], No. 24/2008/QH12, 13 November 2008, available at: http://www.unhcr.org/ refworld/docid/4ac49b132.html. Please see also Decree No. 78/2009/ND-CP of September 22, 2009, detailing and guiding a number of articles of the Law on Vietnamese Nationality, available at: http://www.unhcr.org/refworld/ docid/4b470b2d2.html U N H C R > G P P A C T I O N 1 : R E S O LV I N G E X I S T I N G M A J O R S I T U AT I O N S O F S TAT E L E S S N E S S 61