Introduction 1. The Macedonian Young Lawyers Association (MYLA),1 Bairska Svetlina – Centre for Development of Roma Community,2 AVAJA,3 the European Network on Statelessness (ENS),4 and the Institute on Statelessness and Inclusion (ISI),5 welcome the opportunity to make this submission to Human Rights Committee (‘the Committee)’ ahead of the adoption of the List of Issues Prior to Reporting (‘LOIPR’) in advance of the periodic report on North Macedonia at its 133rd session in October 2021. 2. This submission sets out our organisations’ key concerns about the fulfilment of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (‘the Covenant’ or ‘ICCPR’), and in particular with regard to the child’s right to nationality (Article 24), the right to a legal identity (Article 16), to freedom of movement (Article 12) and the prohibition of discrimination (Articles 2 and 26). 3. Considering North Macedonia’s obligations under the Covenant and the importance of eradicating statelessness expressed by the United Nations High Commission for Refugees (UNHCR) in its #IBelong Campaign,6 the submitting organisations ask that the Committee consider these issues for inclusion in the LOIPR. Moreover, it is our hope that the Committee makes our proposed recommendations to the Government of North Macedonia to further prevent and reduce statelessness as well as protecting stateless persons. 4. This submission will set out some of the key challenges and rights violations faced by stateless persons and persons at risk of statelessness in North Macedonia drawing on the expertise of the submitting organisations.7 Firstly, this submission will outline previous recommendations to North Macedonia made by the Human Rights Committee and during the Universal Periodic Reviews and provide an overview of statelessness in North Macedonia. Thereafter each of the following issues will be addressed in a separate section which includes recommended questions to include in the LOIPR: I. Article 24: Child’s right to a nationality and birth registration II. Article 26: Discrimination against minorities and reduction of statelessness in in situ populations III. Articles 16 and 24: Stateless determination procedure and protection status IV. The impact of COVID-19 on the enjoyment of civil rights and discriminatory practices against stateless people In conclusion, the submission outlines draft recommendations that may be drawn on by the Committee in formulating its ‘Concluding Observations’ to North Macedonia. An Annex is included to outline the relevant international obligations of North Macedonia. 1 See Annex II of this submission. For further info: https://myla.org.mk/?lang=en. See Annex II of this submission. For further info: http://bairskasvetlina.mk/ 3 See Annex II of this submission. For further info: https://avaja.org/ 4 See Annex II of this submission. For further info: www.statelessness.eu . 5 See Annex II of this submission. For further info: www.institutesi.org/ourwork/children.php. 6 See further: https://www.unhcr.org/ibelong/. 7 See Annex II of this submission. 2 2