In today’s world, child birth registration is a critical issue that deserves special attention. The UN children’s agency UNICEF recently released a report highlighting a welcome increase in the number of children worldwide whose births have been registered. Nearly 80 percent of young children under the age of five have been registered in the past five years, the report said.
UNICEF Executive Catherine Russell expressed satisfaction with the progress made by millions of children in realizing their right to a legal identity, while calling for stronger efforts to ensure that every child is registered at birth. Despite these advances, some 150 million children remain “invisible” to government systems, more than half of them in sub-Saharan Africa.
Birth registration ensures children’s immediate recognition in law, providing a basis for protection from harm and exploitation, while ensuring access to essential services such as vaccines, health care and education.
Alarmingly, more than 50 million registered children still do not have a birth certificate, a vital document that serves as proof of registration and is needed to obtain nationality, prevent statelessness and ensure that children can enjoy their rights from birth.
Global progress to date has largely been driven by countries prioritizing timely registration, leveraging health, social protection and education systems, expanding services to more locations, digitalizing the process and eliminating fees.
In the sub-Saharan Africa region, disparities in progress and levels of registration are observed. Southern Africa leads the way with 88 percent, while West Africa has made the most significant progress over the past 15 years, reaching 63 percent. East and Central Africa lag behind, with rates of 41 percent respectively.
UNICEF projects that with slow improvements and a rapidly growing child population, there could be more than 100 million unregistered children after 2030 if current trends continue.
Barriers persist for many families around the world, due to weak political commitment, long distances to travel and multiple visits to registration offices. Lack of awareness of registration procedures, unaffordable fees, prohibitive indirect costs, and in some cases discrimination based on gender, ethnicity or religion, all make registration difficult.
Despite these challenges, some countries have made significant progress. In sub-Saharan Africa, Botswana has achieved universal birth registration, while Côte d’Ivoire has surpassed 90 percent. Rwanda, Sierra Leone, Tanzania, among others, have also shown sustained improvement over the past decade. These successes provide valuable models for other countries to follow.
In conclusion, it is imperative to continue efforts to ensure that every child is registered at birth. Birth registration is a fundamental right that opens the door to a brighter future for children around the world, ensuring their protection, access to essential services, and respect for their rights from the beginning of their lives.