SADCPF40-Res 001\/16<\/p>\n
Resolution adopted at the SADC Parliamentary Forum 40th Plenary Assembly Session 03 to 15 November 2016, Harare, Zimbabwe<\/p>\n
The resolution:<\/p>\n
Calls upon National Parliaments and Governments in the SADC Region to:
\ni)\u00a0\u00a0 \u00a0Resolve any existing situations of statelessness within our own countries;
\nii)\u00a0\u00a0 \u00a0Review the legislative frameworks and administrative practices in nationality matters with a view to ensure their consistency with international standards on the prevention and resolution of statelessness, as well as on protection of stateless persons;
\niii)\u00a0\u00a0 \u00a0Initiate legislative reforms that addresses any identified gaps or challenges, including any discrimination on the basis of race, ethnicity, religion, or gender, thereby helping to prevent statelessness;
\niv)\u00a0\u00a0 \u00a0Ensure gender equality as regards the equal right of men and women to pass on their nationality to their children and spouses, and to change or retain their nationality;
\nv)\u00a0\u00a0 \u00a0Expedite the implementation of Article 6 (4) of the African Charter on the Rights and Welfare of the Child, thereby preventing childhood statelessness;
\nvi)\u00a0\u00a0 \u00a0Establish and maintain comprehensive birth registration and civil registration systems within Member States with a view to prevent statelessness;
\nvii)\u00a0\u00a0 \u00a0Accede to the 1954 UN Convention relating to the Status of Stateless Persons, the 1961 UN Convention on the Reduction of Statelessness and the 1990 UN Convention on the Rights of all Migrant Workers and Members of their Families;
\nviii)\u00a0\u00a0 \u00a0Support the drafting, adoption and ratification of a Protocol to the African Charter on Human and Peoples\u2019 Rights on the Right to Nationality and the Eradication of Statelessness in Africa;\u201d and
\nix)\u00a0\u00a0 \u00a0Work towards the development and adoption of a SADC Ministerial Declaration and Action Plan on Statelessness.<\/p>\n