4.4 Lack of documents The four sections of this chapter will discuss the Survey findings for the lack of birth certificate, citizenship, registration of permanent residence, and possession of personal identity cards in the Roma, Ashkali, and Egyptian population in Serbia. 4.4.1 Birth registration Since all persons lacking birth registration are legally invisible in essence, these individuals are clearly denied many rights that other members of the public can access. An extract from the civil register of births (birth certificate) is the primary document that entitles its holder to all other documentation, from the citizenship certificate, registration of permanent residence, to, finally, an identity card. The 2011 legal amendments simplified access to personal documents and allowed subsequent birth registration for individuals who could not register their birth through the administrative procedure. The progress caused by this streamlining is also reflected in the quantitative results from the field. The survey revealed that 0.45 percent of those surveyed have no birth registration (as opposed to 1.8 percent in 2010, and 1 percent in 2015). In absolute numbers, this means that 41 persons from the sample reported not being registered with the civil register of births, or 253 when extrapolated to the entire RAE population of informal settlements.12 Figure 4.4.1. RAE individuals without birth registration (%) 1.8 1 0.45 2010 2015 2020 12 The RAE population living in informal settlements in Serbia is estimated at 56,276. Source: OEBS Misija u Srbiji, Substandard Roma settlements in Serbia: Review of data from the Geographic Information System for 2016, 2017 See osce.org/files/f/documents/7/0/309401.pdf. 22 PERSONS AT RISK OF STATELESSNESS IN SERBIA OVERVIEW OF CURRENT SITUATION AND THE WAY FORWARD