MAPPING OF THE POPULATION AT RISK OF STATELESSNESS IN ALBANIA According to the most recent population data gathered through the 2011 national census, and compiled by the Albanian Institute of Statistics (INSTAT), there were 7,443 “unregistered” persons in Albania.5 Of this total, 3,874 were men and 3,569 were women. Statelessness can lead to the denial of rights or be an obstacle to accessing rights, as individuals become ‘legally invisible’. This report provides a summary of findings from a joint ‘identification exercise’ involving relevant government counterparts, local governance units, UNHCR and TLAS. The exercise aimed at providing a realistic baseline for the populations at risk of statelessness in Albania and improving understanding about their profile, geographical location and the root causes. Further, it makes recommendations for action that can achieve the goal of eliminating statelessness in Albania. UNHCR’s Global Action Plan to end Statelessness 2014-2024, has as Action 1: Resolve existing major situations of statelessness. Action 6 is: Grant protection status to stateless migrants and facilitate their naturalization. Action 7 is: Ensure birth registration for the prevention of statelessness. Action 8: Issue nationality documentation to those with entitlement to it, and Action 10: Improve quantitative and qualitative data on stateless populations. This mapping report complements previous research work undertaken by TLAS in two other studies: “Ending Childhood Statelessness – A Study on Albania” in 2015, and “Roma Belong - Statelessness, Discrimination and Marginalisation of Roma in Albania” in 2017. The report aims at a better profiling of the risks of statelessness, the causes and consequences, the segments of population affected and their location. With a real baseline of those at risk of being stateless, UNHCR and TLAS can propose solutions to the Albanian government, by developing the right mechanisms of registering the undocumented or those at risk. 1.2.1. Preliminary remarks about drafting the report 1.2.1.1. Contributors This report was written and researched by Tirana Legal Aid Society’s (TLAS) group of experts, with the support of UNHCR Albania. ence-provision-civil-status-documentation-registration.html 5 Census data is available at: http://www.avokatipopullit.gov.al/sites/default/files/RAPORTET/RAPORTET_VJETORE/Raporti_2016.pdf This number is based on the census questionnaire regarding citizenship, and consequently on individuals’ answers and self-perception (Questionnaire available at: http://catalog.ihsn.org/index.php/catalog/4279). UNHCR - TLAS / May 2018 13