Background

Every child has the fundamental right to be registered at birth. The fulfilment of this right is closely linked to the realization of many other rights; socioeconomic rights, such as the right to health and the right to education, are at particular risk where birth registration is not systematically carried out, and the protection of children is jeopardized. Yet, a quarter of all children worldwide do not have a birth certificate. 

Human Rights Council resolution 52/25 on birth registration and the right of everyone to recognition everywhere as a person before the law requests the High Commissioner to conduct a comprehensive study on the use of digital technologies to achieve universal birth registration, its best practices, challenges and opportunities, and potential mechanisms to close the gap between the number of children whose births are reported as registered and those who actually have a birth certificate, to be presented to the Council at its fifty-eighth session. It also requests that the report be carried out in consultation with States, United Nations agencies, funds and programmes, civil society and other relevant stakeholders.

Objectives

The study aims to explore (i) the legal and policy framework concerning birth registration; (ii) the main gaps and challenges to ensuring universal birth registration; (iii) the main human rights challenges and opportunities concerning the use of digital technology to ensure universal birth registration; and (iv) good practices to ensure universal birth registration, including through the use of digital technology.

Key questions and types of input/comments sought

In order to inform the preparations of the study, the UN Human Rights Office has prepared a call for inputs for stakeholders to respond to concerning the focus areas of the report.

The Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights invites all interested States, civil society organizations, international and regional organizations, national human rights institutions, academics and others, to provide written inputs to the following questions for this thematic study.

Respondents are requested to limit their comments to a maximum of 5 pages. Additional supporting materials, such as reports, academic studies, and other types of background materials may be annexed to the submission.

1. What are the main gaps and challenges to ensuring universal birth registration in law, policy, and practice in your country and the impacts on the rights of the child? Please consider the specific situation of marginalized children and those in vulnerable situations in your response.
2. What steps is the Government taking to ensure that universal birth registration is accessible for everyone? Please provide examples of specific laws and regulations, measures, policies, and programmes directed at ensuring universal birth registration.
3. What steps is the Government taking to use digital technologies to ensure universal birth registration and how can digital technologies enable and enhance birth registration processes? Please provide examples of specific laws and regulations, measures, policies, and programmes.
4. What are the main human rights challenges and opportunities concerning the use of digital technology to ensure universal birth registration in law, policy, and practice in your country? Please consider the specific situation of marginalized children and those in vulnerable situations in your response.
5. What mechanisms exist in your country to close the gap between the number of children whose births are reported as registered and those who actually have a birth certificate? Please consider the specific situation of marginalized children and those in vulnerable situations in your response.

Please provide any relevant statistical or disaggregated data based on age, gender, disability, ethnicity, religion, sexual orientation and gender identity, migration status, or other categories.

How inputs will be used

Submissions will be made publicly available, in full and as received, on the OHCHR website, unless otherwise requested.