CEDAW Concluding Observations: Liberia, 2015
Published: 24/Nov/2015
Source: UN Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination against Women
CEDAW/C/LBR/CO/7-8
Concluding observations on the combined seventh and eighth periodic reports of Liberia
Nationality
33. The Committee notes the State party’s efforts to address challenges relating to its nationality legislation. It is concerned, however, that the Aliens and Nationality Law of 1973, which contradicts article 28 of the Constitution, remains in force and continues to be applied, thereby preventing women from transmitting Liberian nationality to their children if they are born outside the country. The Committee notes that this is discriminatory because it is not applicable to Liberian men whose children are born outside the State party and entails the risk of statelessness for the children of Liberian mothers.
34. The Committee recommends that the State party repeal the discriminatory provisions of its Aliens and Nationality Law of 1973, in order to bring it into line with the Constitution and the Convention, to ensure that, in accordance with article 9 of the Convention, Liberian women who give birth to children outside the country can transmit their nationality to their children on an equal basis with Liberian men whose children are born outside the country. Furthermore, the Committee recommends that the State party ensure that children born to Liberian women married to non-Liberian men are not rendered stateless and have access to education, health care and other basic services equal to that of other children
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