64 THE RIGHT TO KNOW THEIR RIGHTS Discrimination from mukhtars also affects stateless individuals' knowledge of their rights and their willingness to pursue them. Findings from both fieldwork and focus group discussions, shed light on the lack of awareness among stateless individuals about their fundamental rights. Many of them do not know how to access healthcare services, obtain valid identification documents, or understand the process of acquiring citizenship. Interestingly, under-study individuals appeared to have a better understanding of these issues compared to other stateless individuals. It is noteworthy that government authorities, NGOs, and CSOs have made limited efforts to raise awareness about the importance of ending and preventing statelessness and finding solutions to the problem. Given that mukhtars often lack knowledge about statelessness and tend to dismiss the presence and needs of stateless individuals, the latter often lose out on an important avenue through which they could become more aware of their rights and how to attain them. 10% 22% of respondents who did not enroll in the 1994 naturalization decree, were not aware of it. of respondents who did not attempt to obtain citizenship did so because they were unsure of whom to turn for assistance. “ “ Stateless individuals don’t know their rights (access to education, driver’s license issuance), neither obligations (marriage and children registration). - Surveyor It is important to raise awareness about this issue, so stateless individuals know and understand their rights. - Lebanese woman wife of a stateless man, Burj Abi Haidar © 2023 Siren Associates. All Rights Reserved.