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13 December, Bishkek – Today, the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees in Kyrgyzstan with the State Registration Service under the Government of the Kyrgyz Republic  held a fourth High-Level Steering Meeting on the Prevention and Reduction of Statelessness in Kyrgyzstan.

Government officials of all relevant state bodies, representatives of civil society organizations and experts reviewed progress on the implementation of the National Action Plan and discussed actions to be taken accordingly.

According to the presentations made at the meeting, despite substantial progress made in preventing and reducing statelessness, there are still a considerable number of persons without proper identification and citizenship documentation in Kyrgyzstan.

“The issue of statelessness in Kyrgyzstan arises most frequently in the context of persons holding former USSR passports, undocumented persons living in border areas, foreign spouses who are married Kyrgyz nationals and gypsies of Central Asia known as ‘Lyuli’ as well as stateless persons coming from other countries”, said Khurshed Yunusov, Protection Officer of UNHCR Representation in the Kyrgyz Republic. “We therefore look forward to strongly supporting the Kyrgyz authorities in the process of implementing the National Action Plan”, Mr.Yunusov continued.

“The Kyrgyz Republic has made great progress in reducing statelessness caused by the collapse of the Soviet Union, and Kyrgyz citizenship laws now largely comply with the international standards. The fruitful cooperation with UNHCR has resulted in a significantly reduced number of holders of Soviet passports,” confirmed Erlan Saparbaev, Chairman of the State Registration Service.

From January 2013 till  the end of November 2013, 12, 871 people have exchanged their outdated Soviet passports of 1974, and approximately 41 stateless persons were granted the citizenship of the Kyrgyz Republic by decree of the President of the Kyrgyz Republic and  41 stateless persons were granted the citizenship of the Kyrgyz Republic by decree of the President of the Kyrgyz Republic.  

The UN Refugee Agency strongly recommends Kyrgyzstan to accede to the 1954 Convention relating to the Status of Stateless Persons as well as the 1961 Convention on the Reduction of Statelessness as this would underscore the country’s commitment to human rights and improve the plight of thousands of people. Kyrgyzstan is not yet party to these Conventions though it already implements most of its provisions through its Citizenship Law.

“Our conference thus decided to promote accession to the two UN Statelessness Conventions and improve the implementation of Kyrgyz legislation”, said Erlan Saparbaev, Chairman of the State Registration Service.

According to data presented at the meeting, the vast majority of the undocumented, stateless and at risk of statelessness persons have practically assimilated in the Kyrgyz society through – long residence in Kyrgyzstan,  children born in the country,  some being of Kyrgyz ethnicity, or have marriage a to Kyrgyz citizens. Lacking proper documentation, however, they are barred from state socio-economic services such as subsidized medicine, pension, and social benefits. In addition, such persons are denied job opportunities and cannot register their property in their name.

The updated National Action Plan aims at reducing statelessness through exchange of old Soviet passports to Kyrgyz passports, ensuring the birth registration and issuance of birth certificates to all children born on the territory of the Kyrgyz Republic; raising awareness of the people concerned about their rights; duties, relevant legislation and procedures;amending  the Law “On Citizenship of the Kyrgyz Republic” and other laws and by-laws regulating citizenship and statelessness issues and ensure their implementation and so on.

 

Since 2006 UNHCR has actively cooperated with the Government of Kyrgyzstan to assist stateless persons, internally displaced persons and returnees in Kyrgyzstan in the issuance and restoration of documents. During 2009-2013 alone, UNHCR provided assistance to the State Registration Service worth approximately 7 million som.