Myanmar - Individuals without citizenship

2020

UNHCR continued protection and solutions monitoring and analysis for the stateless population in Rakhine to inform evidence-based advocacy and protection responses, including on freedom of movement, as well as access to services and livelihoods. UNHCR continued to maintain dialogue, capacity building and the provision of technical support among partners. Within the framework of the tripartite MoU, UNHCR supported the national efforts in improving the situation for the remaining population, including through engagement with the Technical Working Group (TWG) and implementation of community based quick impact projects (QIPs) identified through joint Rapid Needs Assessments (RNA) with local communities. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic as well as unpredictable access, of the 95 QIPs so far approved, 50 of which were approved in 2020, UNHCR completed 12 community infrastructure projects in 2020 (compared to 16 in 2019) as well as four projects targeting persons with specific needs (PSN) in 15 villages, benefiting approximately 22,573 individuals (compared to 15,000 persons reached in 2019). Overall, 36 community-based infrastructure and PSN projects (20 in 2019 and 16 in 2020) have been implemented by UNHCR directly and through partner BAJ in northern Rakhine State under the framework of the tripartite MoU. In central Rakhine, 16 community-based projects reaching 51,000 persons were implemented, including the improvement of roads, solar light installation and mask production livelihood projects (with 160,000 masks produced). In support of the national efforts to prevent the spread of COVID-19, UNHCR distributed 7,100 surgical masks and 1,000 cloth masks to government departments, hospitals and communities. One market was constructed in Maungdaw to support traders and a robust water system was installed in Buthidaung Market to address water needs in the market and to support  efforts against the spread of COVID-19 in public places.

In camps, UNHCR strengthened its engagement in Camp Management and Camp Coordination (CCCM) with its partners NRC, LWF and DRC. Despite limitations on access, the efforts of service coordination in camps and the engagement with different community groups under the community-based protection umbrella has continued. In shelter, the role of UNHCR continues both directly with donation of shelter roofing materials to partners, direct shelter reconstruction and large-scale shelter weatherproofing, which protected over 30,000 people from the rain. Advocacy linked to access and freedom of movement also continues in areas where stateless people are living in confined, segregated camps. UNHCR is also actively engaged in advocacy linked to the camp-closure process.

UNHCR continued to advocate for access to a fair, voluntary and efficient citizenship determination process under the current legal framework, while the ultimate objective remains the reform of the 1982 Citizenship Law. Particular emphasis was placed on strengthening UN engagement to tackle the causes and consequences of statelessness in line with the UN Secretary General’s Guidance Note on Statelessness, the UNICEF-UNHCR Coalition on Every Child’s Right to a Nationality, and the 2030 Agenda. This includes promoting efforts for universal access to birth registration for stateless children in collaboration with UNICEF following the passage of the 2019 Child Rights Law.