5.
(c)
the exemption from or reduction of naturalization fees in appropriate
In
In
60.
Progress has continued to be achieved in this field in various countries. Belgium, a UNHCR-aided project has helped provide refugees in need with the financial and administrative assistance necessary to obtain naturalization. the Federal Republic of Germany, where nearly 2,700 refugees were granted citizenship in 1976 and the number of those naturalized during 1977 continued to increase, new directives for expediting naturalization procedures have reduced from 10 to 7 years the requirement of continuous residence for the naturalization of refugees and stateless persons. In Spain, a law was passed facilitating the naturalization of persons from a certain country in Africa with which there are historical links, among whom there are a number of refugees.
H. Statelessness
-
61. International endeavours to assist stateless persons many of whom are refugees led to the adoption of the 1954 Convention relating to the Status of Stateless Persons and the 1961 Convention on the Reduction of Statelessness. The former instrument is modelled on the 1954 Convention and provides for the granting to stateless persons of a status which is similar, although in some respects less favourable, to that accorded to refugees under the 1954 Convention. Costa Rica acceded to the 1954 Convention relating to the Status of Stateless Persons in November 1977, and the total of States parties to this instrument has therefore risen to 32.
62.
- on
The 1961 Convention on the Reduction of Statelessness, which entered into force on 13 December 1975, provides, inter alia, that a contracting State shall grant to persons in its territory who would otherwise be stateless its nationality either by operation of law at birth or by application at a later date satisfying one or more of the specified conditions. In facilitating the acquisition of nationality at birth, this Convention is also of value in helping to avoid perpetuation of refugee status. During the period under review, Costa Rica, Denmark and the Federal Republic of Germany acceded to the 1961 Convention on the Reduction of Statelessness and the number of States parties to this instrument has therefore risen to nine.
63. Pursuant to General Assembly resolutions 3274 (XXIX) and 31/36, UNHCR acts as the body to which a person claiming benefit of the Convention on the Reduction of Statelessness may apply for examination of his claim and assistance in presenting it to the appropriate authority.
I.
Indemnification
64. Pursuant to its agreement with the Government of the Federal Republic of Germany of 5 October 1960, UNHCR has continued to make payments from the small reserve still available after the closure of the UNHCR Indemnification Fund which had been created for the benefit of refugees who had suffered persecution under the National-Socialist régime for reason of their nationality. This reserve accrues from reimbursements by the authorities of the Federal Republic of Germany in respect of initial payments under any one of the earlier UNHCR funds, where the beneficiaries were subsequently found to qualify for larger payments under
-15-
A