FRONTIERS RIGHTS SEEKING NATIONALITY THE JUDICIAL ODYSSEY OF APPLICANTS ∫ Authentic Executable Copy of a Court Ruling: is a copy of the judicial ruling given by the court to the party benefitting from its execution when the ruling is confirmed and enforceable. ∫ Birth Attestation: is a document issued and signed by the doctor or midwife testifying that he/she attended the birth. Doctors and midwives who attend births are obliged to issue this document according to the Code of Medical Ethics under the Chapter Doctor’s Duties – Professional Confidentiality. ∫ Birth Certificate: is an official form filled by the father, mother or guardian and certified by the birth attendant (if present), the local Mukhtar of the place of birth, and two witnesses. This certificate is the document used for birth declaration and registration with the Civil Personal Status Registry. ∫ Born out of Wedlock: a child born to unmarried parents is considered “illegitimate” under the sectarian/religious laws that govern marriage in Lebanon. ∫ Civil Status Events: are events that cause a change in the individual’s personal status, such as birth, marriage, divorce, death, change of sect and change of gender. ∫ Civil Status Lawsuit: is a lawsuit related to registration, change or rectify a civil event to an existing civil status register. This lawsuit is filed before the single judge who is competent to rule on civil status cases. ∫ Civil Status Registry: is the official civil registry of events. This registry falls under the responsibility of Ministry of Interior ∫ General Directorate of Civil Status. There is a registry in each district (Caza) and a “Civil Status Officer” who is responsible to register in the records all local civil status events and represents the General Directorate of Civil Status at the local level. ∫ Committee of Cases: is a body composed by a number of judges under the Ministry of Justice. It is in charge of defending the State in courts. It concludes contracts with lawyers to represent the state’s different ministries, departments and agencies in claims made by them or against them before the courts. SEEKING NATIONALITY | GLOSSARY GLOSSARY 12