The Statelessness Index The Statelessness Index (https://index.statelessness.eu/) is an online comparative tool developed and maintained by the European Network on Statelessness (ENS),1 that assesses European countries’ law, policy and practice on the protection of stateless people and the prevention and reduction of statelessness against international norms and good practice. ENS has worked with its members to research and compile comparative information on statelessness in 24 countries in Europe so far, with some further countries to be added in future annual updates. For information on the Statelessness Index methodology and how country data is gathered and analysed, see: (https://index.statelessness.eu/about/methodology). How is birth registration assessed in the Statelessness Index? The Statelessness Index and country analysis presented in this briefing use the following set of benchmarks to assess countries’ law, policy and practice on birth registration. The benchmarks are drawn from international and regional human rights standards, soft law, relevant reports, and consultation with experts. These benchmarks and their sources can be viewed in more detail in the country surveys available for download from each country page on the Statelessness Index website. 1. Law and practice provide that all children are registered immediately upon birth regardless of the residence or documentation status of their parents or family members. 2. Documentary proof of birth is issued to parents regardless of their or family members’ residence or documentation status. 3. Any official determination of the child’s nationality where the child may otherwise be stateless is carried out by a competent authority with the necessary expertise, in line with good practice, and an established procedure that adheres to the best interests of the child. 4. There are no mandatory reporting requirements for public officials that could discourage migrant parents from approaching birth registration authorities. 5. Free and prompt birth registration is assured in law and practice even if the period within which the birth should have been declared has expired. The Index assessment for each of the 24 countries is intended to reflect their overall performance on birth registration across the five benchmarks. Elements of good practice from different countries as well as barriers to realising birth registration are highlighted throughout this briefing. These examples are illustrative and, given country performance varies both within and across the different benchmarks, they do not necessarily reflect the country’s performance and consequent assessment on birth registration overall. The Statelessness Index data is updated on an annual basis, so the overall assessment may change from year-to-year. This briefing was published in April 2020 based on Index data, which is accurate as of January 2020. All sources for the assessments and examples presented in this briefing can be found in the Statelessness Index country surveys.