24 two percent tax on their income in order to obtain consular assistance. Fees were similarly high among the consulates reviewed in Morocco. And there are other costs. In at least one case, a parent had been forced to return to the home country to seek the documents required to register the births of children born in Morocco. In any event, most of those interviewed were not aware of a need to register births with consular authorities as well as with the host country for the child’s right to nationality of the parent to be preserved. Those consulates interviewed showed little concern about ensuring that registration did take place, and there is no coordination between the civil registration authorities of the country of birth and the relevant consulates in order to facilitate the documentation of children. Preventing Statelessness Among Migrants and Refugees It is very hard to approach the embassy. Especially if you applied for asylum. They know the people who apply. They have a list. And they will punish you. — Sudanese The embassy only help people who arrived legally but we came here illegally, we don’t have passports. — Ethiopian We’re scared of being arrested and sent back. The consulate doesn’t care about the irregular migrants, they won’t give us a consular card to protect us. The clandestins are not welcome. — Ivorian I haven’t been able to register the child with the embassy because I don’t have all the required documents and my wife is not here, her presence is needed. — Senegalese We do not have any relationship with the embassy as we are political asylum seekers. And where can we get the 2% taxes in US$ to pay to them monthly? — Eritrean Consequences The obstacles to birth registration in both countries create a situation where those who cannot produce a marriage certificate or their own identity documents have to register their children under the names of other people. In Egypt, our research came across one family of four children, each of them registered to different fathers—although they were all born to the same father, who was not listed on any birth certificate. In Morocco, where the fear of deportation was higher, we found a case of a woman who had given birth in a health facility under a false name, greatly complicating the process of formal registration of birth where descent must be proved. Among the Syrian refugees contacted, there was a case where a child whose father was not available had been registered in the name of his brother. The lack of a demonstrated legal connection could mean, for example, that those who finally secured resettlement in a third country—or who were deported—could not take their children with them. Where the difficulties had prevented birth registration altogether, or discouraged a parent from trying, the consequences of lack of registration could be serious. Egypt requires a birth certificate for a child to be registered in a public school. Although schools run by the communities themselves will accept children with no birth certificates, for example among the Sudanese, these are expensive. In any event, a birth certificate will be required to sit exams. Children without birth certificates and adults without a valid res-