documentation while highlighting the socioeconomic benefits of timely birth registration for
children.
From 26 August to 16 September, in the
Philippines, UNHCR coordinated activities across
several provinces in Mindanao to implement the
Initiative for promoting digital birth registration in
the Bangsamoro Autonomous region in Muslim
Mindanao (BARMM). This initiative, funded by the
Government of Japan, has received strong support
from the provincial governments of BARMM, who
have pledged to collaborate with UNHCR and
its partners. As part of the Philippines’ National
Action Plan to End Statelessness, UNHCR aims to
register at least 7,200 unregistered individuals in the
Bangsamoro Region by the end of 2024.
In Yemen, UNHCR and partners supported birth
registration for over 270 refugee and asylumseeking children by providing legal counselling,
assistance, document preparation, and interpretation
services. UNHCR continues to identify unregistered
children for births registration support and provide
legal advice to over 3,500 IDPs on accessing civil
status documentation. UNHCR and partners helped
2,800 IDP heads of households to obtain identity
documents, enabling other family members to
access necessary documentation for rights and
services. Through 50 awareness raising sessions
for 550 asylum seekers and refugees, and 120
sessions for 1,200 IDPs, UNHCR and partners
raised awareness on preventing and reducing
statelessness, including access identity documents
and birth registration.
In August and September, in Vietnam, the Ministry
of Justice conducted assessment missions in
Binh Phuoc and Ben Tre Provinces. During these
missions, 80 local officials received guidance
on addressing civil registration issues, ensuring
accurate parental information on children’s birth
certificates, and reducing societal stigma to promote
better integration. Additionally, local authorities
were trained on identifying and supporting stateless
vulnerable groups.
In Yemen, UNHCR and partners supported the birth
registration of over 270 refugee and asylum-seeking
children by offering legal counselling, assistance
with document preparation, and interpretation
services. UNHCR continues to identify unregistered
children in need of birth registration support and
has provided legal advice to over 3,500 internally
displaced persons (IDPs) on accessing civil status
documentation. Additionally, UNHCR and partners
assisted 2,800 IDP heads of households in obtaining
identity documents, enabling other family members
to access the necessary documentation for their
rights and services.
Between July and September 2024, UNHCR
supported the late birth registration of 74 individuals
in Venezuela, including 73 children and one
indigenous adult. Of these, 31 indigenous individuals
received legal assistance or were supported through
registration brigades to access their identity and
nationality rights. These efforts were carried out
with the collaboration of Identification and Child
Protection Authorities and HIAS in Amazonas,
Barinas, Falcón, Táchira, and Zulia States.
On 28 September, UNHCR and partners organized
a documentation clinic in Belmopan, Belize, in
coordination with government entities to assist
vulnerable individuals in obtaining birth and
identification documents. A total of 133 individuals
were supported, including through late birth
registration, contributing to Belize’s efforts to reduce
the risk of statelessness.
In Region 1, Guyana, UNHCR conducted six
information sessions during the reporting
period, reaching over 200 people and assisting
approximately 70 children with birth registration.
An additional 10 children identified without birth
registration were referred to HIAS and Blossom for
further assistance. UNHCR facilitated the registration
process by coordinating with a regional hospital,
accompanying families, and providing interpretation
support. Additionally, UNHCR supported 10
individuals born in Venezuela to Guyanese parents—
both indigenous and non-indigenous—to access
naturalization and secure Guyanese nationality
based on parentage. All cases are still pending
finalization.
UNHCR > The Campaign to End Statelessness | July – September 2024 Update
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