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equal model of giving nationality by ius sanguinis − not only the paternal model (which is present in the national legal orders of countries of
the Middle East). The abolition of discrimination in the law of granting
citizenship will eliminate the vast majority of cases that Europe and the
world face in times of migration crisis.
It should be remembered that even the application of the CRSSP and
CSP do not replace or in any way affect the citizenship of an individual.
Therefore, in order to eliminate the incidence of statelessness, states should facilitate the path to naturalisation or repatriation. Naturalisation
should be possible also for those who have actually lived in a country for
several years and have set up their living centre there (they have started
a family, have a permanent job), although they currently do not have an
administrative residence permit due to their unknown origin − because
they are integrated in society and could be a part of that society.
5.4 Civil society actions
All these global, regional and state actions should raise the level of
understanding of statelessness among civil society, as well as promote
and support actions preventing statelessness.41 Only local integration
will facilitate naturalisation and the inclusion of stateless persons in the
active life of society. It is the duty of NGOs in particular − since they are
the closest to people − to provide real help to stateless persons, such as
by monitoring government activity in the field of legislation, offering free
legal aid assistance, promoting awareness of human rights and European law rights (even litigating cases before the European Court of Human
Rights), carrying out educational (language, professional work) projects
and psychotherapeutic programmes, fighting discrimination, as well as
meeting basic needs − food or clothing.
A good example here is the European Network on Statelessness,
created in 2012, and committed to providing assistance to stateless persons and their integration into society. This network is formed by NGOs,
academic initiatives and individual experts from almost 40 countries.42
They often focus their activities on refugees (providing social aid and
legal advice) and work in more than one country. The most important of
those who cooperate include the Churches’ Commission for Migrants in
Europe (19 European countries), Asylkoordination (Austria), NANSEN
(Belgium), the Information Legal Centre (Croatia), the Danish Refugee
41
42
Cf UN, Guidance Note of Secretary-General. The United Nations and Statelessness (2011).
More information on the structure and membership of the European Network on Statelessness is available at <https://www.statelessness.eu/about-us/structure-and-membership> accessed 7 October 2020.