Presentation of the results of the mapping of persons at risk of statelessness ©Medija centar
The results of a mapping exercise on the number of people living at risk of statelessness, which was carried out by the NGO “Praxis” with the support of UNHCR, the UN Refugee Agency, in 241 cities and municipalities across Serbia, were presented today. The research, which lasted from June to October, was organized as part of planning activities for next year when UNHCR’s global ten-year campaign “I Belong” ends. The goal of the campaign is to eradicate statelessness worldwide.
“The upcoming year is crucial for solving the remaining cases of people at risk of statelessness in Serbia, and the mapping results we present are useful for planning further steps in solving this problem. Over the past decades, Serbia has made great strides in reducing the number of people at risk of statelessness. In 2010, the number was several tens of thousands, while in 2020, it amounted to slightly more than 2,000 people. We believe that this remaining number of cases can be completely resolved, and UNHCR will continue to work together with the Ministry of Public Administration and Local Self-Government, the Ombudsperson, as well as civil society organizations, other relevant actors, and, of course, with persons at risk of statelessness to achieve this objective,” said Edlira Baka-Peco, UNHCR Serbia Community-Based Protection Officer.
Unlike previous surveys by UNHCR, which covered the entire country using a representative sample, the mapping exercise was conducted in 24 cities and municipalities this time. The researchers involved in the mapping conducted a detailed door-to-door exercise, resulting in the identification of individuals in need of concrete support to resolve the issues they have been facing. Through its regular field activities legal team of UNHCR partner Praxis visited additional 21 municipalities where they identified further cases in Roma settlements and individual households. As of 1 November, a total of 785 individuals at risk of statelessness were identified in these cities and municipalities, and they will be offered concrete support in obtaining their personal documents.
Among them, 383 people are not registered in the birth registers in Serbia (164 persons are not registered anywhere), 431 do not have proof of citizenship, 746 do not have a registered residence in the place where they live and 325 do not have a valid identity card. To overcome these challenges, it is necessary to collect the necessary data and initiate relevant proceedings before the competent authorities of the Republic of Serbia.
Just like earlier UNHCR surveys, this mapping also confirmed the geographical distribution of persons at risk of statelessness. Most of them were identified in the municipalities and cities of southern and eastern Serbia (about 35 percent) and the Belgrade region (32 percent). This is followed by the region of Western Serbia and Šumadija (17 percent) and the region of Vojvodina (16 percent).
“The mapping exercise showed that, despite the significant progress, a number of people living in Serbia are still not registered in the birth registry, do not have citizenship or face problems in registering residence. However, the greatest value of the mapping exercise is that, through the field activities, we have identified actual persons who have problems with accessing documents, which will enable us to provide them with adequate legal assistance in the upcoming period so that they could resolve their documentation issues. What is important now is that all relevant actors, primarily the institutions competent for handling actual procedures have a proactive role and work on resolving the individual cases through an integrated approach, especially at the local level,” said Marijana Lukovic, Executive Director of UNHCR partner NGO Praxis.
The risk of statelessness primarily affects the most vulnerable members of the Roma community in Serbia. UNHCR has been working with vulnerable, internally displaced and domiciled Roma who are not registered in birth registers or are undocumented since 2004.
Individuals without personal documents such as a certificate of citizenship, birth certificate, identity card, or health card are unable to exercise fundamental human rights. This makes them politically and economically marginalized and often subjects them to discrimination.
The full text with the mapping results is available at this LINK.
Bujanovac, Bor, Bojnik, Novi Pazar, Sjenica, Kragujevac, Niš, Subotica, Novi Sad, Zemun, Novi Beograd, Surčin, Čukarica, Palilula, Zvezdara, Obrenovac, Smederevo, Kostolac, Požarevac, Vranje, Aleksinac, Prokuplje, Žitorađa, Zrenjanin.
Presentation of the results of the mapping of persons at risk of statelessness ©Medija centar
Presentation of the results of the mapping of persons at risk of statelessness ©Medija centar
Presentation of the results of the mapping of persons at risk of statelessness ©Medija centar
Presentation of the results of the mapping of persons at risk of statelessness ©Medija centar
1 Bujanovac, Bor, Bojnik, Novi Pazar, Sjenica, Kragujevac, Niš, Subotica, Novi Sad, Zemun, Novi Beograd, Surčin, Čukarica, Palilula, Zvezdara, Obrenovac, Smederevo, Kostolac, Požarevac, Vranje, Aleksinac, Prokuplje, Žitorađa, Zrenjanin.
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