TABLE OF CONTENTS
TABLE OF CONTENTS ................................................................................................................ 3
ACRONYMS AND ABBREVIATIONS ....................................................................................... 5
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY ............................................................................................................ 8
RECOMMENDATIONS .............................................................................................................. 10
A. General recommendations related to Roma access to personal documents ......................... 10
B. Changes to legislation and regulations ................................................................................. 10
C. Establishing an expert body for co-ordinating efforts for solving problems Roma face in
relation to access to personal documents .................................................................................. 12
D. Outreach, awareness-raising and information campaigns .................................................... 13
E. Co-ordinating efforts for solving problems Roma face in relation to access to personal
documents at regional and local level ....................................................................................... 14
I INTRODUCTION ...................................................................................................................... 15
II ACCESS TO PERSONAL DOCUMENTS – INTERNATIONAL AND DOMESTIC LEGAL
AND POLICY FRAMEWORK ................................................................................................... 18
International legal framework applicable in the area of access to personal documents ........... 18
Recommendations from the UN treaty bodies .......................................................................... 19
Ukrainian legal framework applicable in the area of access to personal documents ................ 20
Laws and regulations governing civil registration ................................................................ 20
Laws and regulations governing the issuance of personal documents .................................. 22
Laws and regulations governing registration of residence .................................................... 23
Ukrainian national strategies related to Roma access to personal documents .......................... 24
Strategy for the Protection and Integration of the Roma National Minority into Ukrainian
Society by 2020 and the National Plan of Action for its implementation ............................. 24
National Human Rights Strategy of Ukraine ......................................................................... 25
III ACCESS TO PERSONAL DOCUMENTS FOR ROMA – OBSERVED CHALLENGES .. 25
Data on numbers of Roma without personal documents........................................................... 25
Inconsistencies in administrative practice in cases related to access to personal documents ... 26
Complicated administrative procedures .................................................................................... 28
Financial aspects of administrative and court procedures for obtaining personal documents .. 31
Lack of awareness-raising and outreach initiatives................................................................... 32
IV ACCESS TO PERSONAL DOCUMENTS FOR INTERNALLY DISPLACED ROMA ..... 33
V ROMA WITHOUT DOCUMENTS – ACCESS TO OTHER HUMAN RIGHTS .................. 34
VI THE WAY FORWARD: CONCLUSIONS AND RECOMMENDATIONS......................... 35
Access to the court in cases related to birth registration ........................................................... 36
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