4.5 23. Interdependence and indivisibility of the rights within Article 6 The Committee holds the view that the rights to a name, to birth registration and to acquire a nationality together constitute the pillars of a person‟s identity. At birth, acquisition of nationality under the law generally occurs automatically on the basis of either descent or birth in the territory, or a combination of both; parentage and place of birth may also be the basis for later acquisition of nationality as a child or at majority. Birth registration establishes the place of birth and parental affiliation, which in legal terms serve as proof of acquisition of the parents‟ nationality, or the nationality of the State where the child is born. While birth registration in and of itself does not normally confer nationality upon children, it is a key form of proof of the link between the child and a State. It thereby serves to ensure that every child acquires a nationality and prevents statelessness. The Committee therefore emphasizes, as noted in the Kenyan Nubian Children Case, that “there is a strong and direct link between birth registration and nationality”8; that is, that paragraphs (3) and (4) of Article 6 are closely linked to paragraph (2). A State‟s compliance with the obligation to prevent and reduce statelessness starts from taking all necessary measures to ensure that all children born on its territory are registered. These include: children born out of wedlock, children born to a parent or parents who are foreigners (including those whose parents are in an irregular immigration status, or who are refugees or asylum seekers), children whose parents are unknown, and all other groups at risk of non-registration. Birth registration of all children born in a territory must be effected even where it is clear from the outset that the nationality of the state in question will not be conferred. 24. The Committee underlines that even where children are entitled to acquire the nationality of a particular State pursuant to the Constitution, nationality law or related legislation of that State, in some instances they may not be considered nationals of that State due to lack of documentary proof of their identity, including proof of the nationality of their parents or of their place of birth. While the obligation of States is to 8 Institute for Human Rights and Development in Africa (IHRDA) and Open Society Justice Initiative on behalf of Children of Nubian descent in Kenya v The Government of Kenya Decision: No 002/Com/002/2009 (hereafter Kenyan Nubian Children Case) paragraph 42. 10