4 A civilian government of Myanmar should take special measures to address the needs and vulnerabilities of disadvantaged groups. In particular: A. Ethnic and religious data should be removed from all ID and registration documents to avoid discriminatory treatment. Ethnic and religious data in state registration processes should be provided on a voluntary basis that allows for self-identification. B. Returning refugees and IDPs should be assisted in the acquisition of citizenship and civil documents. In particular, any civil documentation obtained by returning refugees and migrants in their previous countries of residence (or birth), should be recognised by Myanmar and serve as the basis for their civil documentation in Myanmar. C. The current system of providing National Verification Cards to refugee returnees has proved coercive and divisive and should be abandoned. ID documents on return for refugees should be provided on a voluntary basis and in consultation with returnee communities. D. Steps should be taken to facilitate access to documentation for all disabled persons. This includes increasing the accessibility of procedures and engaging in awareness-raising to counter negative stereotypes and encourage families to document disabled persons. E. In conflict areas and areas that are not under the full authority of the central state, efforts should be made to ensure documents and evidence provided by local leaders and authorities are recognised in future applications for citizenship documents. 5 All relevant international actors should support Myanmar’s civilian government and act to protect Myanmar’s people from the arbitrary and discriminatory actions of the Military regime. This requires inter alia: A. Recognise that the arbitrary and discriminatory deprivation of citizenship has been part of a wider strategy of persecution adopted by the military regime, and accordingly, make allowances to protect and provide legal status to undocumented refugees and migrants from Myanmar. B. Providing legal status and civil documentation to all refugees and migrants from Myanmar, both to counter the discriminatory deprivation of documents and legal status, and to facilitate their dignified return when the situation allows. This will help to guarantee the right to nationality and other rights of returning refugees. C. Desist from providing technical or monetary support to the military regime to implement digital ID systems, or in furtherance of the current, discriminatory and arbitrary civil documentation system until a fairer system is in place. D. Recognise the civil documents issued by different actors in Myanmar, including the military regime and authorities that are not aligned with military Junta in autonomous zones, to minimise the risk of statelessness going forward. 7