NEGLIGENCE, STEALING FUTURES One of the recurrent causes of statelessness, and more specifically nonregistration, is negligence. As in the case of Tripoli, the future of most respondents has been confiscated by their nonregistration at birth because of the carelessness of their parents. • In Akkar, as in Tripoli, 30% of the nonregistered stateless respondents declared to be in this situation due to their parents’ negligence and/or ignorance. This corresponds with the opinion of 79% of the interviewed mukhtars who think that parents’ carelessness is the major cause of statelessness in Akkar. • That said, such statelessness cases are easier to solve than those that are inherited and can be addressed through the relevant channels. However, the procedure remains quite complex and requires a civil suit, which many people cannot afford. On that, 30% of Akkar’s nonregistered persons say that financial problems are the main reason behind the perpetuation of their condition, whereas financial means are considered less of an issue in Tripoli (11%). “ My father used to tell us every year that he will register us, but he never did and we remained stateless. 26 years-old stateless woman, Aboudieh, April 20 Fig 13. Why was your birth not registered? 31% 30% 33% 30% 12% 11% Negligence Financial problems Akkar Family problems Tripoli • Despite mixed marriages being a widely known reason for statelessness, only 12% of respondents blame their nonregistration on family problems such as divorce, or fathers who would not recognize their children. In Akkar, the financial burden prevails (30% of respondents), since it also prevents these families from settling certain fees related to the registration of mixed marriages or regularizing the foreign mother’s residency, which can be problematic (if the mother entered the country illegally, for instance). • In contrast, the majority of Tripoli’s nonregistered cases are connected to family problems (33%), such as domestic disputes. © 2021 Siren Associates. All Rights Reserved.