One-half of those who had tried to obtain birth registration were unaware of the reasons for rejection of their application. The other half, by contrast, reported this had been due to lost or invalid documents (31 percent) and issues with foreign civil registers of births (6 percent). This finding indicates the authorities seem to be ignoring principles of good governance by orally rejecting applicants and failing to explain the reasons for such rejection, which in turn means that civil servants coming into direct contact with persons at risk of statelessness must receive more training to be sensitised about the characteristics of this group. Of those who reported having birth registrations in countries other than Serbia (20 percent in total), most claimed to be registered in the Kosovo civil register. These individuals reported their applications for registration in Serbia were chiefly rejected due to lost or invalid documents or issues with foreign civil registers. 4.4.2 Citizenship Citizenship, or nationality, is the particular legal bond between an individual and their state. Proof of nationality for members of the public is a certificate of citizenship and/or birth certificate. The Survey found 29 households in the sample with at least one person who lacked proof of being a national of either Serbia or another country. A total of 45 persons, or 0.49 percent of all respondents, lacked citizenship certificates, leading to the conclusion that persons at risk of statelessness, those not registered with the register of citizens, also made up 0.49 percent of the total RAE population of informal settlements. As with birth registration, this proportion is lower than in 2015, when it stood at 1.2 percent. In absolute numbers, 275 Roma, Ashkalis, and Egyptians surveyed lacked citizenship registration. Figure 4.4.7. RAE individuals not registered as Serbian nationals (%) 1.2 0.49 2015 2020 Persons lacking citizenship registration were more likely to live in Southern and South-Eastern Serbia, as well as in Vojvodina. These individuals were also more likely to reside in poverty-afflicted villages and hamlets and be men. Persons with no registered citizenship also had substantial migratory experience. Of the 29 households whose members lacked registered citizenship, 24 originated from Kosovo and Metohija or other parts of the former Yugoslavia or had returned from Western Europe. 26 PERSONS AT RISK OF STATELESSNESS IN SERBIA OVERVIEW OF CURRENT SITUATION AND THE WAY FORWARD