Reaching Internally Displaced Children with Birth Certificate
Borena Zone, Oromia region
Jatena Doyo, was happy to present his daughter Jillo holding her birth certificate. He said that he ensured that his daughter had her birth certificate although his wife, who was mentally ill, could not go with him to the registration center at the time of registration.
"I heard about the benefits of birth registration from the public service announcement of the civil registration officers during meetings at the IDP site,” said Jatena. He explained that his daughter received her certificate before she got an official name following the cultural naming ceremony of the Borena community.
Dido Wata (45) is a father of five children. He explained that, according to Borena culture, a child uses a nickname until he/she reaches the age of three at which time he/she will be given an official name through the traditional “Gubbissa” ceremony. However, Civil Registration Agency, through a persistent community awareness was able to convince the elders and the IDP’s to give an official name immediately after birth to be used for registration and certificate but continue the tradition of using the nickname at home until the “Gubbissa” ceremony is conducted.
Therefore, Jatena Doyo gave the official name “Jillo” rather than her nickname “Asli” for her birth certificate.
“I don’t know my exact age, but I am happy that my daughter will not be as confused as I am now, when asked about her age because everything about her birth and parentage is registered on this certificate,” said Jatena.
For more than four years, Borena zone of Oromia region has been hit by recurrent drought and conflict caused by inter-communal clashes which forced many families to leave their homes for safety, security and to get basic lifesaving assistance. According to Multi agency Belg/Gena 2023 seasonal assessment report, in the zone, there are an estimated 154, 824 IDP’s out of which 19501 are under 5 years who requires Birth Certificate.
Birth Registration is an acknowledgement of a child existence, legal identity, citizenship and ensures protection and a “breeder document” for all other rights and prevent statelessness. The Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) have a dedicated target (16.9-Goal 16) for Birth Registration “provide legal identity for all, including birth registration, by 2030”. In addition, the UNCRC Articles 7 & 8 “acknowledge the importance of the right to an identity, including name and nationality.” Birth Certificate establish a protective environment for children against abuse, neglect, violence, and exploitation. In addition Birth certificate contributes significantly to the prevention of child marriage, protection of children from recruitment during armed conflict, child labor and case management services such as family tracing and reunification.
It is critical that Birth Registration is included in all emergency preparedness and response mechanisms and plans and integrated with sectors like WASH, Health, and Education.
UNICEF is advocating and mobilizing resources to reach children internally displaced with BR services which is free and accessible. Accordingly, UNICEF with the generous financial support of the German National Committee, worked with the regional CRA to promote an enabling environment for BR services in humanitarian contexts, advocating for simplifying registration processes for internally displaced children through legislative and administrative procedures including engagement of communities to address cultural barriers.
As a result, Oromia Civil Registration Agency (CRA) introduced measures, such as allowing registration and issuance of birth certificates free of charge, waivers for those who do not have required document such as ID card, outreach registration and issuance of Certificate, establishing registration centers within IDP sites, and registering birth in the presence of only one parent. These measures made registration of births and issuance of certificates more accessible and friendly for parents and care givers. In Elwaye, Dubuluk and Yabello IDP sites, over 5,000 children were registered, and issued birth certificates between October and November 2023. Considering Oromia region complex emergencies and the large number of IDP’s, estimated at 1.5 million, with more than 20% children, more financial resources need to be mobilized to register all under 5 years and provide Birth Certificate.
