married to foreigners are unable to confer their nationality to their children born abroad on an equal basis with Malaysian men. Children born in such situations may be stateless or at risk of statelessness if they are unable to acquire their father’s nationality. There were concerns over the lack of regulation in overseeing surrogacy arrangements, the absence of a national adoption law as well as different procedures for adoption. In addressing stateless issues, SUHAKAM reiterates its call for the government to accede to the relevant international human rights instruments such as the Convention Relating to the Status of Stateless Persons 1954, Convention on the Reduction of Statelessness 1961, and Convention Relating to the Status of Refugees 1951. As a minimum, accession would ensure that stateless persons, especially children, will not arbitrarily be deprived of nationality. Accession would ensure that they will be granted a nationality under certain circumstances in which they might otherwise be stateless; and that children who remain or become stateless will have protection. 2. HUMAN RIGHTS AND POVERTY The Report of the Special Rapporteur on Extreme Poverty and Human Rights Prof. Philip Alston was released on 7 July. Subsequently, SUHAKAM organised an online dialogue on ‘Human Rights and Poverty’ on 22 September to discuss further issues that were highlighted, as well as to identify the impact of COVID-19 on various vulnerable groups. A total of 65 participants from CSOs, academics, research institutes, UN agencies, and individuals participated in the dialogue session. SUHAKAM observed that poverty persists among those who are economically and socially vulnerable. They include single mothers, older persons, persons with disabilities (PWD), plantation workers and indigenous communities, as well as rural and urban poor households. The absence of social protection systems makes these vulnerable groups more insecure and unable to participate economically and socially in society. For instance, many senior citizens have savings of less than RM50,000 in their Employees Provident Fund (EPF) account for their retirement.5 Many 5 30 https://www.malaymail.com/news/malaysia/2020/09/25/epf-over-50pc-contributors-above-54-havesavings-of-below-rm50000/1906759 ANNUAL REPORT 2020