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Birth Registration and Its Crucial Role in Preventing Statelessness

This presentation by Prof. Benyam Dawit Mezmur explores the significance of birth registration in addressing statelessness. It delves into the impact on child rights, economic development, and national demographics, emphasizing the obligations of states in ensuring immediate registration. The discussion covers barriers to registration, the link to nationality proof, and the importance of partnerships in breaking silos for effective implementation.

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Birth Registration and Its Crucial Role in Preventing Statelessness

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  1. BIRTH REGISTRATION AND ITS ROLE IN PREVENTING/ADDRESING STATELESSNESSBENYAM DAWIT MEZMUR(Prof of Law, Community Law Centre)

  2. 1. Introduction • Objective • The child rights imperative • A score card for the region? • Birth registration and statelessness: The various scenarios • Some food for thought

  3. 2. Objectives • To draw link • A “right from the start”- implications? • contributing to the economic and social development of a nation through creationof a permanent demographic database • Birth registration as an enabling right • Birth registration rate and GDP per Capita

  4. 3. The child rights imperative • Article 7 (and Art 8) of the CRC • Article 6 of the ACRWC • Nature of State Party obligation • Interdependence and indivisibility • What is meant by immediate? • what are the elements of the right?

  5. 3. The child rights… (cont’d) • Right to life - Family life • Early marriage - Juvenile justice • ECD - Education • Social Security - Child labor • Adoption - Sexual exploitation • Child soldiers - Harmful practices • Child protection systems in general…

  6. 4. A score card in the region? • Demand side barriers • Supply side barriers • Is BR compulsory? • Identification of vulnerable groups? Who are they? Where are they? Why are they in vulnerable situations? Etc… • Freedom of movement and implications • Attempting innovative ways

  7. 5. The various scenarios • BR as a “proof” of nationality • Migrants / Refugees / IDPs • Border and nomadic populations • Foundlings and unknown parentage • Children of permanent residents etc… • Adopted children • Children born outside of country • Acquisition by naturalization/registration • Loss/deprivation and renunciation

  8. 6. Some final thoughts • Constitution • Cross learning • Lack of money is root of all evils? • Partnerships and breaking the silos • BR as good investment + security asset • Post 2015 Development agenda • Hope of Africa rising?!

  9. SOME SOURCES USED • Manby Brownen (detailed sources available in the Biblio section of “Nationality, migration and statelessness” publication for this meeting) including “Statelessness in Southern Africa” available at http://www.refworld.org/pdfid/50c1f9562.pdf • UN CRC Committee http://www.ohchr.org/EN/HRBodies/CRC/Pages/CRCIndex.aspx

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