Reaching out to partners in the time of COVID-19: Birth Registration

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The COVID-19 pandemic is affecting birth registration services by reducing their accessibility and availability. Alongside reduced demand among families for birth registration, the number of children without a birth certificate is increasing rapidly. Children without legal identity do not exist and are at risk of being excluded from the society, and at higher risk of other child right deprivations. UNICEF is supporting governments to adapt to “the new normal” so that they can maintain the continuity of civil registration services and keep accelerating efforts towards universal birth registration.

In 2020, the world is celebrating the 30th anniversary of the African Charter on the Rights and Welfare of the Child. This represents a major advocacy opportunity to call for urgent action from partners to support birth registration – the first right of the child to a legal identity – and to expand the circle of supporters for universal birth registration.