FOREWORD The present study “Faces of Statelessness in the Czech Republic” was compiled in 2018 and reflects the state of events as of the end of 2018. Since then, there have been new developments in relation to the situation of stateless persons in the Czech Republic. The first area in which certain developments have taken place since the end of 2018 is the decision-making on applications for the determination of statelessness lodged under Section 8 (d) of the Asylum Act.1 The second area covers the legal status of applicants for determination of statelessness. It has become clearer based on the first case-law made to remedy legal gaps in the statelessness determination procedure that has not been regulated in law. The text box added into the legal analysis of the study summarises these changes, including an assessment of their impact on the legal status of stateless persons. The summary is limited to an overview based on the findings obtained by UNHCR as part of its activities. Neither the text nor the facts contained therein are meant as an integral part of the study. As will be seen, the conclusions and recommendations made regarding the absence of regulations on the legal status and insufficient guarantees in relation to both the applicants for the determination of statelessness and recognized stateless persons remain valid. In other areas (applicable legislation, statistics, social services) the described facts and findings remain unchanged and so is the validity of relevant conclusions and recommendations. June 2020 1 Act No 325/1999 on Asylum and amending Act No 283/1991 on the Police of the Czech Republic, as amended. UNHCR Czech Republic 7