12. At the UNHCR’s High Level Segment on Statelessness (HLS) in October 2019, Zimbabwe pledged the following:17 I. II. III. IV. V. VI. VII. By 2021, undertake and publish a qualitative and quantitative study to better understand the situation of stateless groups and individuals living in its territory with a view to finding a solution to their situation. Include a question or questions in its next national census in 2022 to identify stateless persons living in its territory. Based on the findings of the study, develop a National Action Plan by 2022 in ending statelessness by 2024. By 2023, establish a dedicated statelessness determination procedure to identify stateless persons within the territory and grant them protection status with an aim to solutions. Conduct consultations with relevant stakeholders towards the accession to the 1961 Convention on the Reduction of Statelessness by 2023. By 2023, complete the ongoing process of aligning its Citizenship Act [Chapter 4:01] and Births and Deaths Registration Act [Chapter 5:02] with the new Constitution (Constitution of Zimbabwe Amendment (No. 20) Act. 20 1.1) in ensuring the proper safeguards in preventing statelessness. By 2024, simplify and improve access to birth registration procedures, including issuance of birth certificates to descendants of former migrant workers and failed asylum seekers to ensure universal birth registration. 13. As part of its efforts to realise commitments to its UNHCR HLS Pledge as set out in the previous paragraph under point I, the Zimbabwe Human Rights Commission (ZHRC) launched an Inquiry on Access to Documentation in Zimbabwe and issued a Report in September 2020.18 The Parliamentary Portfolio Committee on Defence, Home Affairs and Security also issued a report on challenges in accessing primary documents in the Matabeleland South Province in August 2019.19 Both reports issue extensive recommendations to the state to address issues of statelessness by, among others, the introduction of regular mobile registration exercises, amending discriminatory provisions in national legislation to ensure registration of children born out of wedlock, and ensuring that all children born in Zimbabwe are registered (including children born of indeterminate nationality). 14. In terms of its other commitments under the UNHCR HLS Pledge, Zimbabwe is yet to implement a National Action Plan to end statelessness. A joint taskforce on statelessness has been established, which includes the Department of the RegistrarGeneral (DRG), UNHCR, members of civil society and members of academic institutions. The DRG and the UNHCR conducted a Desk Study report on statelessness in 2019, which was validated by the taskforce in October 2020. The taskforce also intends to conduct an empirical study across the country to identify persons at risk of statelessness: to conduct statelessness determination procedures, to document those who are at risk of stateless, and to resolve issues of non-documentation where possible. Based on the 17 See: https://www.unhcr.org/ibelong/results-of-the-high-level-segment-on-statelessness/. Zimbabwe Human Rights Commission, Report on: National Inquiry on Access to Documentation in Zimbabwe, April 2020, available at: http://citizenshiprightsafrica.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/ZHRC-NationaI-Inquiry-on-Access-toDocumentation-Report-2020.pdf. 19 Parliamentary Portfolio Committee on Defence, Home Affairs and Security, 27 August 2019, Zimbabwe: Report on The Gwanda Community Youth Development Trust Petition on Access to Primary Documents, Accessible at: https://citizenshiprightsafrica.org/zimbabwe-report-on-the-gwanda-community-youth-development-trust-petition-on-accessto-primary-documents/. 18 3