@ UNHCR #1Belong Ministry of Foreign Aftais Socialist Republic of Vit Nam Southeast Asian Senior Officials’ Roundtable on Civil Registration, Legal Identity Documentation, and the Prevention of Statelessness — Hanoi, 25 October 2023 Concept Note and Agenda Over the last years, countries in Southeast Asia have made progress in identifying and addressing statelessness. Ending statelessness is an important element of national strategies to meet the global sustainable development goals and “to leave no one behind”. To address statelessness in the region more effectively, additional, accelerated, and targeted action will be essential. The Southeast Asian Senior Officials’ Roundtable therefore explores how national efforts to reach this objective can be increased. To this purpose, national government officials will share their practical experiences in this area in recent years. The target audience for the planned roundtable are senior government officials. Their peer-to-peer exchange is expected to strengthen the basis for government engagement on a higher level at a later stage. Throughout the roundtable, statelessness experts from the region will be available to initiate and support the discussions. The event is to be co-hosted by the Government of Viet Nam and UNHCR, the UN Refugee Agency. All sessions will be chaired by Mr. Doan Hoang Minh, Director General of the Department of Consular Affairs, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Socialist Republic of Viet Nam, and Mr. Indrika Ratwatte, UNHCR Regional Director for Asia and the Pacific. Agenda of the Roundtable 09:00-09:05 Technical announcements by the Host, 09:05 -09:35 Opening remarks ‘© HE. Mr. Nguyen Minh Vu, Assistant Minister of Foreign Affairs, Government of the Socialist Republic of Viet Nam Mr. Indrika Ratwatte, UNHCR Regional Director for Asia and the Pacific © Mrs. Pauline Tamesis, UN Resident Coordinator Viet Nam 9:35-09:45 Group photo 09:45 - 10:45 Session 1: Reducing statelessness / resolving individual cases of statelessness Reducing statelessness / resolving statelessness relies on various practices, such as: Issuing legal identity documentation to undocumented nationals; ascertaining the nationality status of persons of undetermined nationality; confirming the nationality of persons previously without proof of nationality; a@ UNHCR #1Belong Ministry of Foreign Aftais Socialist Republic of Vit Nam naturalizing persons who are stateless in their own country; and finding solutions for stateless refugees and migrants. In this session, government officials share their approaches, thereby encouraging effective domestic solutions for particularly targeted population groups, such as poor and marginalized communities or ethnic minorities. The expected outcome of the session is that government officials become aware of additional opportunities to reduce remaining statelessness caseloads. The session will be co-chaired by MFA and UNHCR. Speakers are: ‘+ Dr. Nguyen Cong Khanh, Senior Lecturer at Ha Noi Law University and former DG of the Department of Civil Registration, Nationality and Authentication: “Addressing statelessness in Viet Nam through the implementation of the Prime Minister's Decision No. 402/Q0-TTg”. ‘+ Mrs. Siti Maslinda Mardi, Director Citizenship Division, National Registration Department, Malaysia: “The successful resolution of the statelessness situation in Malaysia”. * Dr. Christoph Sperfeldt (Raoul Wallenberg Institute / Macquarie University): “Resolving statelessness in Southeast Asian Countries”. 10:45-11:00 Tea break 11:00~12:00 Session 2: Birth registration, certification, and legal identity documentation th registration, certification, and legal identity documentation do not automatically lead to the acquisition of a specific nationality, but they may contribute to prevent statelessness. All Asian governments have embraced the Civil Registration and Vital Statistics Decade in Asia ond the Pacific 2015- 2024 with its goal of universal birth registration. In 2022, they have reconfirmed this commitment through ‘a second Ministerial Declaration. The suggested session explores how to use birth registration and certification to minimize statelessness risks; how to tailor documentation requirements for parents in a way that every child can enjoy their individual human right to birth registration; and how to use civil registration to benefit State interests in the areas of development and security. Ultimately, the session should clarify available avenues towards universal birth registration. The session will be co-chaired by MFA and UNHCR. Speakers are: ‘Speakers from Thailand on the topic “Moving towards comprehensive birth registration among ethnic communities’: Mr. Zcongklod Khawjang, Foreign Affeirs Officer, Senior Professional Level, Foreign Affairs Division, Office of the Permanent Secretary for Interior; Mr. Noat Hamindra, Plan and Policy Analyst (Professional level), National Security Council; Ms. Kitiporn Boon-an, Human Rights Official (Specialist Level), National Human Rights Commission. * Prof. Sriprapha Petcharamesree, Faculty of Law, Chulalongkorn University, Thailand: “Regional perspectives on birth registration, certification, and legal identity documentation for the prevention of statelessness” 12:00~ 13:00 Lunch break 13:00- 14:00 Session 3: Domestic and international legal safeguards@ UNHCR #1Belong Ministry of Foreign Aftais Socialist Republic of Vit Nam Domestic legal safeguards against statelessness are instrumental to prevent future cases from arising, Such safeguards need to be part of directly applicable national law. The most important safeguards are: ‘Any child born in a country and otherwise stateless acquires the nationality of the country of birth; any child born to a national and otherwise stateless acquires the nationality of the parent; foundlings acquire the nationality of the country where they are found; the loss, withdrawal, deprivation, or renunciation of nationality should only be allowed if it does not lead to statelessness; and a person’s loss of nationality should not affect the status of spouses and children if this would lead to statelessness. In international law, safeguards against statelessness are codified in the 1961 Convention on the Reduction of Statelessness. The accession to the 1961 Convention is therefore an important step towards ending statelessness globally. Moreover, the 1954 Convention relating to the Status of Stateless Persons is a crucial instrument to protect the fundamental rights of stateless persons, define their status, and give them a pathway towards legal identity and naturalization. In this session, government officials discuss possible ways towards making domestic legal frameworks more effective in reducing and preventing statelessness. Government officials may also want to discuss current obstacles to accessions, and ways to overcome these. The session will be co-chaired by MFA and UNHCR. Speakers are: * State Counsel Mr. Melvin Suarez, Department of Justice Refugees and Stateless Persons Protection Unit (D0J-RSPPU), Philippines: “Amended citizenship laws and the Philippines’ recent accession to the Statelessness Conventions”. ‘* Mr. Eric Paulsen, Consultant/Former Representative of Malaysia to the AICHR (2019-2021): “international best practice examples for domestic and international legal safeguards against statelessness”. * Mrs. Monika Sandvik, Senior Statelessness Coordinator, UNHCR Division of International Protection. 14:00-14:15 Tea break 14:15 -15:15 Session 4: Statelessness and Development “Ending statelessness” is an important element of the global development agenda. “Leaving No One Behind” implies the inclusion of marginalized population groups. The session explores the links between sustainable development goals, such as SDG 16.9. on legal identity for all, and the goal of ending statelessness, Addressing statelessness is often related to poverty eradication, the building of harmonious. and inclusive societies, and the strengthening of internal stability and security. Statelessness-related activities may thus be included in national UN Sustainable Development Cooperation Frameworks. The session will be co-chaired by MFA and UNHCR. Speakers are: ‘Ms, H3 Thi Minh Bic, ACWC Representative of Viet Nam/Deputy Director General, Department of International Cooperation, Ministry of Labour, invalids and Social Affairs: “The Legal Identity of Women and Children and their Access to Social Protection’,@ UNHCR #1Belong Ministry of Foreign Aftais Socialist Republic of Vit Nam ‘+ Mrs. Radha Govil, Deputy Director of the Peter McMullin Centre on Statelessness, Australi “statelessness and its impact on different dimensions of poverty”. ‘+ Mrs. Anna Kneifel, Senior Development Officer, UNHCR RBAP: “Development partners for ending statelessness”. 15:15-15:30 Closing remarks ‘+ Mr. Doan Hoang Minh, Director General of the Department of Consular Af Foreign Affairs, Socialist Republic of Viet Nam ‘+ Mr. Indrika Ratwatte, UNHCR Regional Director for Asia and the Pacific , Ministyry of Logistics ja Noi, Hotel Sheraton, KS Nghi Tam, 11 Xuan Dieu, Tay Ho district, Ha Noi, Viet Nam. Date: 25 October 2023. Place: Participants: Participants are Senior Officials from Cambodia, East Timor, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, the Philippines, Thailand, and Viet Nam. The participants represent national Governments (Directors’ or Deputy Directors’ level), Human Rights Institutions, or other relevant national stakeholders. All sessions ‘are supported by international experts. International organizations and donor agencies have been invited as observers.