Millions of kids do not officially exist

Stressing the need for registering all births in Pakistan, the UNICEF said on Saturday that around three million children born in the country each year did not officially exist and their registration was vital to protecting the children’s rights.
“Figures for birth registration in Pakistan paint a worrisome picture for children’s rights. According to UNICEF’s 2011 State of the World’s
Children report, only 27 percent of total births in Pakistan between
2000 and 2009 were registered,” said a press release issued by UNICEF on the occasion of ‘Make Every Child Count’, which was the theme of this year’s Universal Children’s Day to be observed today (November 20).
The UNICEF also said results of other official surveys indicated the worst situation in Balochistan and FATA, where just one percent of children were registered on birth. “The figures for birth registration in other areas are still low and need improvement: Sindh and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (20 per cent); and Pakistan-Administered Kashmir (24 per cent); while Punjab has a higher rate (77 percent) and is closer to universal registration,” said the UN agency for the right of the children.
Stressing that birth registration is the first right of every child born in Pakistan, the UNICEF said birth registration was important as it established existence of a child under law and provided the foundation for safeguarding many of the child’s civil, political, economic, social and cultural rights. “The UN Convention on the Rights of the Child specifies that every child has the right to be registered at birth without any discrimination.”
“It is absolutely vital for every child’s future well-being and the fulfilment of their rights that they are registered at birth,” said Karen Allen, UNICEF Pakistan Deputy Representative.
She also added that reasons for such low-birth registration were complex and varied, including a lack of awareness of the importance of registration, cost factors, and geographical distance, but despite all that quick change for the better is needed. “Without birth registration, children may be denied access to things that most of us take for granted, such as an ID card, passport, a bank account, the ability to vote, and access to education, health and other social services,” Karen said.
According to the UNICEF official, without a registration, it would be almost impossible to fully protect the rights of adolescents, or prosecute cases of unlawful premature entry into adult roles such as marriage, or the labour force, when the exact age of the child or adolescent cannot be determined. “Birth registration provides the government with essential population information needed to plan for community amenities like schools and hospitals. It is every child’s right to have their birth registered and for children to take their rightful place in Pakistan society,” she added.