We had no idea”- Preventing and reducing statelessness in Lebanon
When baby Marita was born in Lebanon, her parents were unaware that there was a one-year deadline for registering their daughter’s birth.
Marita’s father was a day labourer in Beirut; he could not afford to lose a day’s work to complete the paperwork with the authorities in Baalbeck. “I was so scared”, says Marita’s mother.
“I didn’t know what to do. It haunted me to think my daughter wouldn’t have an ID card – that she wouldn’t be able to attend school or see a doctor.”
The Ministry of Social Affairs referred the case to UNHCR’s partner, Frontiers Rights. Frontiers Rights took on the case and, with UNHCR’s support, provided free legal aid and represented the family in court. The case ultimately succeeded.
Today, Marita is six years old. She is registered as a Lebanese citizen, and is no longer stateless. Marita is one of the 1,500 stateless people of Lebanese origin who, with UNHCR support, have been able to remedy their lack of nationality or gain access to documentation. She is one of around 7,000 girls and boys who have been helped in this way.
“Everybody told me the legal process would be very complicated”, says Marita’s mother. “I was so frightened by the financial implications, which were all the more worrying in the midst of this financial crisis. Then Frontiers came along. They truly accompanied me every step of the way. They comforted me, they explained all the details to me. "
"The entire family was happy when Marita was finally registered. Saying ‘thank you’ doesn’t even begin to express our gratitude.”
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