EXTREME VULNERABILITY IN THE HEART OF LEBANON While fieldwork debunked old stereotypes on stateless persons, it uncovered the growing vulnerabilities that they face, which have been exacerbated by the multidimensional crisis. The study revealed the existence of new and previously underestimated waves of statelessness in the country, namely the children of migrant domestic worker mothers (MDWs) born to Lebanese fathers. DEBUNKING OBSOLETE MYTHS • The study has shed light on a number of specificities, one of which is related to the high level of attachment that stateless persons in Greater Beirut and Mount Lebanon have to their Lebanese roots. Evidencing this, a majority of surveyed stateless have found the courage to initiate the lengthy procedure of citizenship acquisition, despite its complexity. Also, a significant proportion of respondents proclaimed their preference to national belonging over other forms of attachment like the tribe, family or sect. • Furthermore, the view that stateless persons are prone to fraudulent behaviors as a consequence to their status fails the test of field research. They seem to be aware that their precarious legal status makes them more vulnerable than citizens to harsh punitive measures. The study showed that stateless persons generally avoid trouble and resist resorting to fraudulent practices to facilitate access to services. • The study also revealed a lack of knowledge and awareness among a large segment of mukhtars about the condition of statelessness. This is concerning as mukhtars serve as stateless persons’ initial point of contact with the state and are key to facilitating their integration into the state and its bureaucratic procedures. PERPETUATION OF VULNERABILITY • The country is undergoing one of its worst financial and socioeconomic crisis, which is severely affecting all segments of the Lebanese population and increasing the vulnerability of stateless persons. • The impact of the socioeconomic situation was tangible throughout the fieldwork, as livelihoods were severely degraded and access to services further deteriorated. Moreover, a significant proportion of stateless households are at risk of losing access to shelter, with 34% of stateless renters currently facing eviction. • Gender discrimination exacerbates vulnerability. While statelessness limits access to services like education and employment for all, women face higher risks of exploitation and are susceptible to negative coping mechanisms, such as underage marriage, even though this trend is declining. • The children of MDWs born of Lebanese fathers appeared as a surprisingly large cohort, accounting for 1 in 5 of the nonregistered children identified. The victims of the Kafala face multiple challenges, which increase their exposure to risk due to the combination of their legal status, existing gender norms and racial discrimination. The Dom form the largest stateless group in the mapped areas (at least 40% of all). They continue to endure cultural and racial stigma, living on the margins of informal settlements around the capital city. © 2023 Siren Associates. All Rights Reserved. 87