Back to Contents A collective of NGOs working in Lebanon made a joint submission to the Human Rights Council Universal Periodic Review in 2020 in which they stated among others that: “As a result of the lack of legal status and records, stateless persons cannot register their marriages and the births of their children, perpetuating statelessness between generations. Their deaths are not registered.” (Source: The Collective for Research & Training on Development- Action, The Nationality Campaign, Ruwad alHoukouk Frontiers Rights et al, “Joint Submission to the Human Rights Council Universal Periodic Review”, July 2020, p. 11) In its 2022 Emergency Appeal, UNRWA reported that: “Legal status continues to be a key determinant of vulnerability in Lebanon given the importance of residency for the freedom of movement and the right to work. This particularly impacts PRS without residency permits who report that civil registration services continue to be more difficult to access due to transport and other associated costs.” (Source: UNRWA, “Syria, Lebanon and Jordan Emergency Appeal 2022”, 18 January 2022, p. 40) “Civil Registration Until October 2017, a valid legal status was a prerequisite for most civil registration processes in Lebanon. Difficulties in obtaining legal residency documents had a far-reaching impact on PRS and Non-ID Palestinians. Based on a circular issued by the Ministry of Interior in October 2017, valid legal residency is no longer required for all parties in civil registration of births, marriages, deaths and divorces. The fears and lack of awareness of the community related to the complexities of legalizing their stay remain obstacles for registration of births and marriages with the Lebanese authorities, leading to children not having a legal status, creating long-term difficulties for them.” “In March 2019, a new circular was issued by the Ministry of Interior, no longer requiring costly court proceedings to obtain birth registration of PRS children aged one year or older who were born in Lebanon between January 2011 and February 2019. There is still a need, however, for proof of marriage – for which a legal residency of at least one party is still a requirement.” (Source: UNRWA: “Protection brief Palestine refugees living in Lebanon Updated in September 2020”, p. 3) 4. Legal and policy frameworks and their implementation 45