Living in obscurity, without any official documentation like a birth certificate, can be an incredibly challenging and isolating experience. For many, it means a lack of access to basic rights and services that most people take for granted. Imagine the inability to enroll in school, access healthcare, find legal employment, or even prove your identity. This is a harsh reality for many individuals, including people like Mrs. S., a 65y Roma from Greece, mother and grandmother. 

For Mrs. S., not having a birth certificate meant 65 years of invisibility within her own country. She was unregistered, with no legal recognition of her existence. This situation is not just a bureaucratic hurdle; it’s a profound social and psychological burden. Being unrecognized by the state can make someone feel like they don’t belong anywhere, living on the fringes of society with limited opportunities and constant uncertainty. 

The journey to obtain a birth certificate, especially after so many years, is often a complex and arduous process. It involves navigating legal systems that may seem opaque and intimidating, particularly for those with limited education or resources. However, organizations like Solidarity Now through the Athens Solidarity Center program provide critical support. Through the legal service of Athens Solidarity Center, we help individuals like Mrs. S. navigate the legal maze to finally gain recognition and the ability to claim their rights. 

For Mrs. S., the successful issuance of her birth certificate through the Athens Magistartes Court’s voluntary jurisdiction procedure marked a significant turning point. It was not just a piece of paper but a key to unlock a new chapter of her life. With this document, she could finally appear in the official state archives, a recorded and recognized individual with the ability to access rights and services previously denied to her. 

This story underscores the importance of legal recognition and its profound impact on an individual’s life. It’s a reminder of the many invisible barriers that exist in our societies and the critical need for support systems to help those who live in the shadows gain their rightful place in the world. 

*Since August 1st, 2023, the operation of the Athens Solidarity Center by SolidarityNow is supported by the Swiss-Greek Cooperation Programme/Embassy of Switzerland in Greece to reducing economic and social disparities in the EU and by the Ministry of Migration and Asylum.

 **The Center is also supported by the Municipality of Athens.