Statelessness

WHO WE ARE

Macedonian Young Lawyers Association (MYLA) is a leading civil society organization founded in 2003, dedicated to advancing the rule of law and protecting human rights. We provide free legal aid, engage in strategic litigation, and influence public policy through research, advocacy, and capacity-building. Our vision is a society where every person enjoys their fundamental rights and freedoms.

OUR COMMITMENT TO ENDING STATELESSNESS

Since 2010, MYLA has been at the forefront of efforts to end statelessness in North Macedonia, working closely with the UNHCR, the Council of Europe, and key national institutions. We combine legal protection, policy reform, and community empowerment to address the root causes and consequences of statelessness, especially among vulnerable Roma populations.

Key activities:

Legal Aid: Providing individualized legal support in birth registration, naturalization, and residency regulation.
Strategic Litigation: Advancing landmark cases to strengthen protections for stateless individuals.
Policy Reform: Drafting and advocating for legislative amendments (e.g. Civil Registry Law, Law on Foreigners).
Field Outreach: Conducting community visits and legal clinics in Roma settlements with trained Roma mediators.
Awareness Campaigns: Promoting birth registration and legal identity through nationwide campaigns.
Institutional Capacity-Building: Delivering training for civil registrars, social workers, and municipal staff.

OUR IMPACT

Over the past decade, MYLA has achieved measurable and lasting results:

5,800+ individuals received legal assistance
800+ people obtained citizenship and legal identity
500+ new cases of people at risk of statelessness identified
5 national laws influenced or co-drafted
Hundreds of professionals trained on statelessness and legal documentation
Dozens of awareness events reaching marginalized communities
First-instance judgment recognizing systemic and prolonged discrimination by the Ministry of Justice – Office for Civil Registry

OUR APPROACH: FROM LEGAL AID TO LASTING CHANGE

We believe ending statelessness requires a holistic, sustainable strategy:

Component	What We Do
Legal Empowerment	Individual case management and court representation
Systemic Reform	Legislative advocacy and state collaboration
Community Outreach	Roma-led field activities and culturally sensitive campaigns
Knowledge & Training	Capacity-building for legal professionals and future generations
Strategic Partnerships	Aligning with key national and international actors for systemic impact

PARTNERS AND ALLIES

We work hand in hand with institutions and organizations committed to justice and inclusion:

UNHCR
Council of Europe
U.S. Embassy in North Macedonia
OSCE
Parliament of North Macedonia
European Network on Statelessness
European Roma Rights Center
Romalitico NGO
Coalition All for Fair Trial
Roma grassroots organizations and community leaders

FURTHER SUPPORT

Despite years of progress, statelessness remains a hidden emergency in North Macedonia, especially within Roma communities. Stateless individuals face exclusion from healthcare, education, employment, and voting rights. Without legal identity, they remain invisible.

Your support can help us:

Scale up legal aid and outreach to remote communities
Ensure timely birth registration through mobile teams and mediation
Train frontline workers and institutions
Establish an effective system for registration in civil registry records
Push forward critical legal reforms
Empower young legal professionals to continue this work

JOIN US IN ENDING STATELESSNESS

With your partnership, we can close the identity gap, protect rights, and ensure that no one is left behind.