Introduction

A birth certificate is an authentic legal document attesting to the birth of a legal personality. A copy of this document is often used for certain administrative procedures, such as issuing national identity documents or civil marriage. This act enables access to education and social security and protects against trafficking and forced marriage. Despite its importance, many children do not have access to it. According to a UNICEF study, 4 out of 5 internally displaced children under the age of 18 have no birth certificate.

What are the Reasons for this Gap between Actual Births and the Acquisition of Birth Certificates?

Since 2016, Burkina Faso has been facing a severe security crisis that has led to a consequent deterioration in the humanitarian situation. According to the Permanent Secretariat of the Conseil National de Secours d’Urgence et de Réhabilitation (SP/CONASUR), on December 31, 2022, the country recorded 1,822,391 Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs), half of whom were between 0 and 14 years old, with 216,754 children under the age of 5. As the establishment of a birth certificate depends on the place of birth, these fugitives are unable to initiate legal proceedings. What’s more, many adults lose their identity documents themselves while on the move. Declaring a birth is the key step in obtaining a birth certificate. Prone to ignorance or negligence, especially in rural areas, some parents do not declare the birth of their children. Unaware of the usefulness of this document, they do not initiate the regularization procedures required after these births in order to obtain it. Others are ashamed of the idea of declaring children, especially those born of rape or incest.

What are the Risks for Children who don’t have this Document?

Statelessness: a child without a birth certificate has no identity and can therefore enjoy no nationality or state protection. Lack of access to education, health services and social security. Exposure to human trafficking, child labour, early marriage and sexual exploitation. Recruitment by armed groups or assimilation to terrorists during identity checks.

How can this Situation be Prevented?

Raise awareness of the importance of registering births, a key step in obtaining a birth certificate. Set up civil registry offices attached to the communes of the various PDI sites to enable birth certificates to be issued to children. Support local authorities and social players working to give every child access to his or her identity.

Conclusion

The International Convention on the Rights of the Child stipulates that all newborn babies must be registered at birth. Although many international and local organizations are committed to this, this is not always the case for the majority of children born in rural areas. So, in addition to the commitment of these organizations, we need the involvement of the local population to ensure that every child has the right to his or her own identity.