Serbia and Montenegro: Update to YUG20146 of 21 March 1995 on whether identification documents indicate the ethnic affiliation or background of an individual, and how ethnicity was determined (March 2005)
| Publisher | Canada: Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada |
| Author | Research Directorate, Immigration and Refugee Board, Canada |
| Publication Date | 2 March 2005 |
| Citation / Document Symbol | SCG43394.E |
| Reference | 2 |
| Cite as | Canada: Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada, Serbia and Montenegro: Update to YUG20146 of 21 March 1995 on whether identification documents indicate the ethnic affiliation or background of an individual, and how ethnicity was determined (March 2005), 2 March 2005, SCG43394.E, available at: https://www.refworld.org/docid/42df618711.html [accessed 17 May 2023] |
| Disclaimer | This is not a UNHCR publication. UNHCR is not responsible for, nor does it necessarily endorse, its content. Any views expressed are solely those of the author or publisher and do not necessarily reflect those of UNHCR, the United Nations or its Member States. |
An attaché of the Serbia and Montenegro Embassy in Ottawa stated that there is no indication of ethnic affiliation or background on identity documents except passports, which indicate "Yugoslav" as a nationality, even if they were issued after the creation of the State Union of Serbia and Montenegro (23 Feb. 2005; 17 Feb. 2005). The passport does not contain any background information other than the birthplace (Embassy of Serbia and Montenegro 23 Feb. 2005). The certificate of citizenship shows the name of the father and the mother's maiden name, as well as birthplace (ibid.).
The identity card, which bears an identity number unique to every citizen, does not indicate the person's ethnic affiliation or background (ibid.). The United States Department of State indicates that the identity card, which must be carried by all residents over the age of 18, "contains the photograph, date and place of birth, and address of the bearer" (7 Jan. 2004).
The attaché from the Embassy of Serbia and Montenegro in Ottawa indicated as well that a person's ethnic affiliation or background is often apparent from his/her name (23 Feb. 2005).
A source indicated that the Serbian identification law requires that the text on the ID cards appear in Serbian as well as in the language of the other ethnic groups whose languages are recognized in the constitution of Serbia and Montenegro (Prevent Genocide International 26 Oct. 2003). In the areas of Serbia and Montenegro where national minorities live, "[t]heir languages and scripts are in use as well" (Serbia and Montenegro n.d.).
In correspondence sent to the Research Directorate, a representative of the Helsinki Committee for Human Rights in Serbia stated that identity documents (identity cards, passports, certificates of citizenship) "do not indicate ethnic affiliation" (25 Feb. 2005). The representative added that the birthplace is indicated on identity cards (ibid.).
This Response was prepared after researching publicly accessible information currently available to the Research Directorate within time constraints. This Response is not, and does not purport to be, conclusive as to the merit of any particular claim for refugee protection. Please find below the list of additional sources consulted in researching this Information Request.
References
Embassy of Serbia and Montenegro, Ottawa. 23 February 2005. Telephone interview with an attaché.
_____. 17 February 2005. Correspondence sent by an attaché.
Helsinki Committee for Human Rights in Serbia. 25 February 2005. Correspondence from a representative.
Prevent Genocide International. 26 October 2003. "Global Survey of Group Classification on National ID Cards"
Serbia and Montenegro. n.d. "Identity Card."
United States. 7 January 2004. Department of State. Visa Reciprocity and Country Documents Finder. "Serbia and Montenegro."
Additional Sources Consulted
Internet sources, including: Amnesty International, The Balkan Human Rights Web Pages, Comité de liaison pour la solidarité avec l'Europe de l'Est, Country Reports 2003, Le Courrier des Balkans, Government of Serbia and Montenegro, Helsinki Committee for Human Rights in Serbia.
