Legal documentation: A lifeline for refugees

When Aliyella Niyonkuru arrived in Uganda's western refugee settlement of Nakivale nearly two years ago, she was alone. It was just her and her baby, who was just a few months old at the time. Aliyella had fled her home in DR Congo because of political unrest and violence, leaving all her belongings behind.

Life in Nakivale was not comfortable. Aliyella continued to hope for a better future for her family. However, she soon found that without legal and civil papers, she had no access to basic services such as education, health care, and even food.

And for a single mother, this further exacerbated her struggle to provide for her child. She worked odd jobs in the settlement, but the income was meagre and unstable. She often had to go hungry to ensure her child had something to eat. They also lacked basic necessities like adequate housing and medical care.

But Aliyella was determined to find a way to give her daughter a better life. She began attending meetings and workshops organised by the Norwegian Refugee Council (NRC). She learned about NRC's Information Counselling and Legal Assistance (ICLA) programme and its support for people like her.

Our immediately recognised the situation Aliyella was in and set out to assist her in obtaining a birth certificate for her daughter.

The process was not easy as Aliyella did not have any identification documents herself. However, our ICLA team was able to work with the authorities to provide the necessary documents and get the birth certificate issued. “I'm no longer invisible, with these documents in my hands I have gained a voice, a presence and a chance to rebuild my life,” says Aliyella overjoyed at the news, expressed her gratitude.

The importance of birth registration cannot be overstated, as it is a fundamental human right that provides children with a legal identity, protection, and access to basic services such as education and healthcare.

As the global refugee crisis continues to unfold, it is critical to provide refugees with the resources and support they need to obtain legal and civil documents. NRC's work is a testament to the transformative power of collaboration among diverse groups, humanitarian organisations, governments, and local authorities to give refugees hope to rebuild their lives.