DESK REVIEW ON POPULATIONS AT RISK OF STATELESSNESS Stateless Status Determination (RSSD) procedures and six already recognized as stateless, the numbers are significant and the situation urgent due to the age of this population. The average age of identified PJD is 81 years old. e. Consider pursuing a joint committee on bilateral cooperation between the Philippines and Japan similar to what was utilized to resolve cases of Persons of Indonesian Descent (PID) as a matter of urgency. The scheme utilized for PID appears to be similar to a scheme utilized by Japan and China for Japanese war orphans in China (albeit without UNHCR engagement). Furthermore, the Japan Ministry of Foreign Affairs is already commissioning annual surveys to identify PJD in the Philippines. It is likely, therefore, that a similar strategy that was used with PID may work also for PJD. A joint committee on bilateral cooperation between the Philippines23 and Japan that can map and register at least, if not also determine nationality for PJD, would likely be effective to swiftly resolve the remaining pending caseload, and be prudent with due regard to the age and vulnerability of the population. As the population is aging, time is of the essence. The average age of the PJD population is 81 years old. A joint committee on bilateral cooperation would likely be effective to swiftly resolve the remaining pending caseload within the timeframe of the National Action Plan to End Statelessness by 2024 (alongside the global campaign), or sooner. The population is significant but not massive, and past experience has demonstrated that an official government list provides adequate evidence for family courts in Japan to move quickly.24 f. Additional insights could be provided through direct consultations with PJD. Key informant interviews with PJD would support the identification of needs, risks, and perceptions and should be a part of any mapping exercise for the population. Interviews or participatory assessments could be conducted, whether as part of a more formal initiative, or a less formal one. It may also be beneficial to engage relevant actors, such as the Philippine Nikkei Jin Kai Rengokai (Federation of Japanese Descendants organizations) and the Philippine Nikkeijin Legal Support Center (PNLSC) and facilitate consultations and collaboration among key stakeholders to effectively identify and resolve cases. 23 Under the auspices of the Philippines’ Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA), in coordination with DOJ-RSPPU. Without government engagement, when investigation and evidence collection is included, the time frame for resolution of each case assisted by the PNLSC, from the time of identification to approval by the Family Courts in Japan, has reached up to 13 years. At most, without any government intervention, PNLSC has said that the maximum number of cases they could possibly assist in court proceedings a year is 20. This is far from adequate and if nothing is done, it would result in a large number of PJD dying long before any progress could be made in their case. On the other hand, a single lawyer supported the resolution of 1,200 persons of Japanese descent in China on the basis of the official government list of registered PJD from China. Such a list could resolve the situation for this entire population in a relatively short timeframe. 24 UNHCR / April 2021 11