High-level roundtable discusses lessons from Sudanese refugee documentation cases and underscores the importance of legal identity in safeguarding refugee rights and access to services.
Marking World Refugee Day 2026, the Arab Renaissance for Democracy and Development (ARDD) hosted a high-level roundtable discussion entitled, “Civil Documentation and Legal Identity as a Lifeline for Refugees in Jordan: Lessons from a Sudanese Refugee Documentation Case.”
The event brought together representatives from UNHCR Jordan, Independent Diplomat (ID), members of the Sudanese refugee community, legal experts, and other stakeholders to discuss the critical role of civil documentation in ensuring legal identity, protection, and access to rights and services for refugees in Jordan. The discussion was informed by ARDD’s recently published paper examining the challenges Sudanese refugee children face in obtaining accurate civil documentation and the lessons learned from efforts to address them.
Opening the discussion, Dr. Mariam Abu Samra, Head of the Renaissance Strategic Center (RSC) at ARDD, emphasized that legal protection is an essential component of refugee safety, stating:
“ARDD is deeply honored to play this important role in supporting refugee communities through legal aid and advocacy. Legal identity is fundamental to ensuring that refugees can access their rights and live with dignity and protection.”
Rana G. Ksaifi, Assistant Representative (Protection) at UNHCR Jordan, highlighted the importance of ensuring equitable protection for all refugee communities, noting:
“Less visible communities like Sudanese refugees must not be overlooked or left behind in broader humanitarian responses. All refugees deserve equal protection, representation, and support, regardless of their nationality, and as we commemorate the 75th anniversary of the 1951 convention this year, these commitments remain vital”.
Highlighting the broader protection implications of documentation challenges, Guillaume Charron, Director of Independent Diplomat’s Geneva Office, stressed:
“Documentation is something most people do not think about when it is working well. When it is not, it can render people legally invisible, creating a real risk of statelessness for refugees.”
Representing the voices of the affected community, Ms. Samia Adam, a Sudanese refugee community leader, reflected on the impact of documentation discrepancies on refugee families and noted:
“ARDD’s advocacy helped us build trust and encouraged more refugees from the Sudanese community to seek the correction of their documents.”
The event also highlighted the valuable contributions of Ms. Adam, whose continued voluntary efforts in support of refugees from various nationalities in Jordan have significantly strengthened community solidarity and support. ARDD and participants acknowledged her inspiring example of community leadership and her dedication to serving others and creating positive change within refugee communities.
Participants discussed how documentation challenges can undermine legal identity, family unity, access to education, and protection from statelessness. The discussion further underscored the importance of coordinated advocacy and collaboration among refugees, civil society organizations, UNHCR, national authorities, and community leaders in identifying and addressing emerging protection concerns.
The roundtable highlighted a significant achievement resulting from joint advocacy and legal assistance efforts, with more than 100 birth certificates belonging to Sudanese refugee children successfully corrected, helping safeguard their access to education and other essential services.
The event was organized under the framework of the Policy Dialogue and Community Engagement Initiative on Legal, Economic, and Social Issues and Access to Services in Jordan, jointly implemented by ARDD and Independent Diplomat with support from the Dutch Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
Read the full publication here:
Civil Documentation and Legal Identity for Refugee Children in Jordan: Lessons from a Sudanese Refugee Documentation Case
