Skopje, 8 August 2023 (MIA) - About 112 people who do not own personal documents are having their documentation completed to obtaining a birth certificate and ten of them received birth certificates at the Registry Office on Tuesday. By the end of the year, all 540 will be registered in the birth registry, Registry Office director Emir Sulejmani said. 

He added that the procedure is to be completed by the end of 2023. 

"Having in mind the decade-long problem faced by a certain group of citizens, who have elementary needs in terms of social, health and other services, the Registry Office formed a working group some time ago. The task of the working group was to meet the needs of the target group, the undocumented persons who are not registered and do not own a birth certificate, in a simpler and more efficient way. The working group consists of several members, experts, employees of the Registry Office, a smaller number here from the main office and a larger number from the regional units. Over time, the opportunity to amend the Law on Civil Registry opened up," Sulejmani said. 

He noted that with the help of the Ministry of Justice, non-governmental organizations, UNHCR and OSCE, and the Center for Social Affairs, amendments to the draft law were prepared, and the Parliament voted on the proposed amendments.

"The law provides transitional and final provisions that set the exact deadlines on how the entire procedure and dynamics should proceed. By the end of 2023, we should complete the procedure and all the persons who are in our records should be registered in the regular birth registry. Today we are implementing an action plan with the help of non-governmental organizations, about 112 people are having their documentation completed," said Sulejmani.

He added that a certain number of citizens will be issued with a birth certificate today, and in the coming period, citizens who have requirements that are within the framework of the legal amendments will also receive birth certificates. 

Sulejmani urged all those who have previously applied for the public call, to come to the Registry Office.

"I believe that by the end of the year, when we finish all the work, we will be the first country in Europe that will not have unregistered persons," he added.

Lawyer Maja Ristovska Stojanovska, who represents the person Selvet Etemovska, said that thanks to these legal changes, Etemovska will receive a birth certificate for the first time today and will be able to continue the procedure before the Ministry of Interior, where she will be able to obtain identification documents.

Etemovska told MIA she was very grateful for the opportunity to get a birth certificate, which will help her in terms of health insurance, as well as being able to get a job.

Photo: MIA