40 SAME YET DIFFERENT: IN FOCUS When looking closer at the different regions within each governorate, clear differences appear: under-study are overproportioned in Beirut’s informal settlements (with a predominantly Dom population), while non-registration is strongest in its northeastern suburbs. Under-study The under-study category is widespread among the Dom population, who mostly reside in informal settlements in Greater Beirut (64%). The exclusion of stateless individuals with nomadic roots from Lebanese recognition traces back to the 1932 census, which overlooked their constant movement and their absence of adequate identification documentation, leading to statelessness. Moreover, among Dom respondents, 39% have an under-study grandfather and 61% have an under-study father, further reinforcing the historical pattern of this category of statelessness. Non-registration Eastern Beirut and the northeastern suburbs of the city, predominantly Christian regions, have the highest concentration of non-registration cases. When asked about the reasons for not being registered at birth, respondents brought up negligence and family issues as the main factors. It is worth noting that the dynamics between rural and urban regions differ when analyzing the reasons behind non-registrations. Fig 5. Why was your birth not registered? 41% 30% 29% 29% 33% 31% Fig 6. Statelessness distribution in selected Greater Beirut regions 30% 24% 24% 13% 23% 40% 18% 11% 12% 33% 64% 21% 6% Greater Beirut Mount Lebanon Negligence Tripoli Family issues Akkar Northeastern suburbs Informal Settlements with Dom Population Financial issues Non-registered Inherited Under-study Other Figure 5 illustrates that economic factors play a significant role in contributing to nonregistration by parents in rural regions (such as in Akkar with 30% of cases). Family problems1 appear to be a more prevalent driver of non-registration in densely populated urban areas (accounting for 21% of non-registered cases in Beirut, and 30% in Tripoli. This may be due to the relative diminishing of traditional values and easing of restrictive customs in these areas. An average of 28% of non-registered respondents across all governorates stated that negligence is the main cause behind their non-registration. When asked who they blame the most for their situation, a majority of respondents in Greater Beirut and Mount Lebanon blamed only their parents (48%), compared to 19% blaming both their parents and the State. Negligence remains a prominent cause of non-registration across various regions, emphasizing the need for community awareness campaigns in high-risk areas. 1. Family problems need to be understood as declared by stateless respondents. They include issues such as divorce, or bad terms between spouses or siblings among others. © 2023 Siren Associates. All Rights Reserved.