causes and risks of statelessness by conducting a study on the legal and administrative framework related to nationality. E. Protection of stateless persons 49. We urge States to ratify and implement the 1954 Convention relating to the Status of Stateless Persons. In the spirit of the 1954 Convention, it is essential that States proceed with nationality determination (by virtue of birth, alliance or ancestry) using bilateral or multilateral cooperation mechanisms, as applicable. In cases where nationality cannot be determined, we urge States to initiate a statelessness determination procedure to establish the status of the concerned persons and enable them to enjoy the rights that accrue to that status. 50. We recommend that States set up support services (including online services) whose role would be, inter alia, to identify stateless persons and provide them with free-of-charge legal assistance as well as access to justice and any other type of assistance as appropriate, in order to clarify and regularize their status. 51. We call on ECOWAS to adopt a regional instrument to, inter alia, create a status of stateless person which grants the same rights and obligations as those attributed to nationals and to guarantee the human rights of stateless persons under Community law. ECOWAS may wish to suggest the adoption of a continental instrument on statelessness, building on the example of the OAU 1969 Convention governing the specific aspects of refugees’ problems in Africa. We call in particular on ECOWAS to guarantee the freedom of movement of stateless persons. 52. We call on ECOWAS, with the assistance of UNHCR, to strengthen capacity of member states in the development of procedures and national mechanisms, including national focal institutions to oversee stateless matters and facilitate the development of a legal framework for the implementation of the 1954 Convention at State level. F. Solutions for stateless persons and risks of statelessness   53. We encourage States to identify the obstacles pertaining to confirmation and acquisition of nationality and conduct a review of their nationality legislation and procedures and, as necessary, adopt laws and policies concerning confirmation and/or acquisition of nationality. Rules for conferral of nationality should be changed so that all stateless people resident in the territory are considered nationals provided that they were born on the territory or have resided there before a particular date, or have parents or grandparents who meet these criteria. 54. In the search for solutions, it is essential to take into account the situation of street children, who are mostly living in the street because there is no 9