identification and protection mechanism in place. They rarely have documentary evidence of their identity, and those who are abandoned or have ruptured their links with their families face serious complications for reconstituting their identity and thus accessing a nationality. States should consider as foundlings any children, as defined in article 6 of the African Charter on the Rights and Welfare of the Child, found on their territories, whose identity cannot be reasonably established and whose family cannot be traced, and guarantee in their laws that these children are granted their nationality.   55. In the search for solutions, it is also essential to take into account the situation of populations with a pastoral and transhumant lifestyle. They often have ties with several countries but lack documentary evidence thereof. Their particular situation requires a revision of the protocol on pastoralism for ECOWAS and African Union in order to recognize their ties to one or more specific countries, so as to guarantee their access to a nationality and facilitate their access to identity documentation. In view of the risks of statelessness in border and trans-border areas, we ask ECOWAS Member States to pay particular attention to the specific situation of these zones and the populations who live there. It is necessary to guarantee their non-discriminatory access to civil registration services and documentation. 56. We are aware that West Africa is a region prone to intensive migration, mainly from other countries of the region. In the search for solutions, it is essential to take into account the situation of offspring of migrants who, because of conflicts of laws, are unable to acquire the nationality of their country of birth nor that of their parents. As such, we recommend that States provide in their legislation for acquisition of nationality to unregistered or undocumented children, if at the time of the child’s birth he/she is not granted nationality by any other State in accordance with its laws. 57. In situations of protracted migration, it is also important to consider the situation of migrants who no longer have or have never had evidence of their nationality and as such find themselves without an established identity/nationality. We encourage ECOWAS to implement mechanisms to seek the identity and establish the nationality of the concerned persons. We call upon all States to ensure consular representation for the citizens of ECOWAS and to work actively with IOM and ECOWAS on the confirmation of the identity and nationality of stranded migrants. We also call upon States of residence to facilitate acquisition of nationality to those with relevant links to their territories. 58. Refugees are particularly vulnerable to the risk of losing proof of their identity. This risk increases when their exile is protracted and when the administration of their country of origin is severely dysfunctional, particularly 10