As Americans celebrate Mother’s Day, many mothers around the world are still fighting for basic rights. In 27 countries they are fighting for the right to pass their nationality on to their children. Lebanon, my home country, is one of them. The United Nations’ refugee agency considers it one of the seven worst countries when it comes to safeguards against statelessness.

“We give life, but we can’t give citizenship?” one mother asked at the latest protest held by the campaign for women’s right to citizenship, My Nationality Is a Right for Me and My Family.

This is a reality for every Lebanese woman. A childhood friend of mine, for example, is in a committed relationship with an Englishman she met in Lebanon. They both live there and hope to for many years. She is Lebanese, but her children will not be.

Nor will my future children, unless I marry a Lebanese man. My brother’s children? They will be Lebanese regardless of their mother’s birthplace.