A/HRC/RES/20/5 2. Reiterates that the arbitrary deprivation of nationality, especially on discriminatory grounds such as race, colour, sex, language, religion, political or other opinion, national or social origin, property, birth or other status, is a violation of human rights and fundamental freedoms; 3. Also reiterates that the prevention and reduction of statelessness are primarily the responsibility of States, in appropriate cooperation with the international community; 4. Calls upon all States to refrain from taking discriminatory measures and from enacting or maintaining legislation that would arbitrarily deprive persons of their nationality on grounds of race, colour, sex, language, religion, political or other opinion, national or social origin, property, birth or other status, especially if such measures and legislation render a person stateless; 5. Urges all States to adopt and implement nationality legislation with a view to avoiding statelessness, consistent with the principles of international law, in particular by preventing arbitrary deprivation of nationality and statelessness as a result of State succession; 6. Notes that the full enjoyment of all human rights and fundamental freedoms of an individual might be impeded as a result of the arbitrary deprivation of nationality, and that such individuals are placed in a situation of increased vulnerability to human rights violations; 7. Expresses its concern that persons arbitrarily deprived of nationality may be affected by poverty, social exclusion and limited legal capacity, which have an adverse impact on their enjoyment of relevant civil, political, economic, social and cultural rights, in particular in the areas of education, housing, employment, health and social security; 8. Reaffirms that every child has the right to acquire a nationality, and recognizes the special needs of children for protection against the arbitrary deprivation of nationality; 9. Urges all States to prevent statelessness through legislative and other measures aimed at ensuring that all children are registered immediately after birth and have the right to acquire a nationality and that individuals do not become stateless thereafter; 10. Calls upon States to observe minimum procedural standards in order to ensure that decisions concerning the acquisition, deprivation or change of nationality do not contain any element of arbitrariness and are subject to review, in conformity with their international human rights obligations; 11. Encourages States to grant their nationality to persons who had habitual residence in their territory before it was affected by the succession of States, especially if those persons would otherwise become stateless; 12. Calls upon States to ensure the access of persons arbitrarily deprived of their nationality to effective remedies, including, but not limited to, the restoration of nationality; 13. Welcomes the report of the Secretary-General submitted in accordance with Human Rights Council resolution 13/21 and the conclusions contained therein; 14. Also welcomes the intergovernmental event organized by the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees on 7 December 2011 marking the sixtieth anniversary of the Convention on the Status of Refugees and the fiftieth anniversary of the Convention on the Reduction of Statelessness, and the pledges made by States at the said 1 A/HRC/19/43. 3

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