International Anglican Family Network Promoting front-line Family Care throughout the Anglican Communion Supporting the Campaign for Universal Birth Registration The Churches and Birth Registration

NOT REGISTERED - 51 million children each year NOT REGISTERED - Half of under-5s across the world NOT REGISTERED - 64% of births in South Asia NOT REGISTERED - 63% of births in sub-Saharan Africa NOT REGISTERED - 2% of births in industrialised countries Birth Registration is a Big Issue

Why does Birth Registration matter? Birth Registration gives a child citizenship access to immunisation and healthcare access to education

Why does Birth Registration matter? Birth Registration protects children from early marriage recruitment to armed groups imprisonment as adult prisoners child labour, prostitution, pornography

Why does Birth Registration matter? Birth Registration means an adult can sit national exams gain a social security number marry have a driver’s license own a SIM card get a passport

Birth Registration promotes development Registered adults can work vote and stand for election own property Why does Birth Registration matter?

Birth Registration promotes development With accurate statistics, nations can plan health plan education plan economic development recover more quickly from war, disease, famine or natural disaster. Why does Birth Registration matter?

Birth Registration is a Gospel issue We belong We live in relationship – with God, with others Unregistered children are often poor, marginalised, displaced Jesus gave children status Why does Birth Registration matter?

Distance from registration offices Patriarchal attitudes Clash with local culture Parents unaware or suspicious Lack of State capacity The cost Birth Registration: Obstacles to overcome

A priority for some NGOs, eg, UNICEF; Plan International. State registration campaigns. Churches using local presence to promote and assist. What is already being done?

Understand birth registration as a Gospel priority. Work with the State. Partner with other churches and agencies. Build trust and awareness through community presence. Promote registration through existing family ministries. What more can churches do?

Provide evidence of birth, eg, baptism certificates, clinic records. Offer church buildings as registration centres. Help families directly to register their children. Share good practice. What more can churches do?

International Anglican Family Network Promoting front-line Family Care throughout the Anglican Communion Supporting the Campaign for Universal Birth Registration “The unregistered child does not exist” Archbishop Emeritus Desmond Tutu Let us know what is happening in your area. Contact IAFN at