A/HRC/7/23 page 23 76. Numerous civil society initiatives include the launch in 2007 of the Citizenship Rights in Africa Initiative as a joint initiative by the Open Society Justice Initiative, the International Refugee Rights Initiative and the Global Pan Africa Movement. The Citizenship Rights in Africa Initiative establishes itself as a campaign dedicated to ending statelessness and the arbitrary denial of citizenship in Africa; in this context, it monitors, investigates, documents, denounces and, where necessary, litigates cases of statelessness and denial of citizenship rights in Africa. Also of note is the symposium on regional integration and citizenship that was held on 31 August 2007 by the Rwanda Centre for Strategic Studies in Kigali. In Latin America, the work of the Movement of Dominican-Haitian Women, in partnership with other national and international non-governmental organizations, on the rights of the minority of Dominicans of Haitian descent in the Dominican Republic, particularly as they relate to the right to nationality, has led to establishing international jurisprudence on the right to a nationality and the prohibition of arbitrary discriminatory practices in this regard.13 The equality and citizenship programme of the Open Society Justice Initiative continues to work globally, directly with States and communities concerned on issues relating to the rights of non-citizens. Refugees International is also acknowledged for its work in reporting on stateless populations around the world. VIII. CONCLUSIONS AND RECOMMENDATIONS 77. The independent expert welcomes the important work being done to address and combat the causes and consequences of the discriminatory denial or deprivation of citizenship of minorities and developments in this regard, and encourages the international community to use the present report as a tool to take those steps further. While positive practices have been identified, few have fully addressed and resolved the situations faced by members of minority communities in all regions. Efforts must be intensified by all relevant actors, and most importantly States themselves, which have primary responsibility for the protection of the rights and welfare of all individuals residing on their territories irrespective of their citizenship status. The independent expert makes the recommendations as set out below. 78. The right to a nationality is a fundamental human right and must be considered as such by all States. 79. While States have a prerogative to establish laws governing the acquisition, renunciation or loss of nationality, they must do so within the framework of international human rights law. In situations relating to constitutional amendments or changes to national legislation relating to the conferral of citizenship, States should not revoke citizenship retroactively. 80. States must not arbitrarily deny or deprive minorities of citizenship on the basis of colour, descent, national or ethnic origin, language, race or religion. Fundamental fairness, including the right to appeal, must be guaranteed in all immigration and citizenship procedures. 81. With limited exceptions, States must not consider citizenship a condition for the enjoyment of human rights, including the rights of persons belonging to minorities.