Kathmandu, June 2: Birth registration is essential for protecting the fundamental rights of children who are vulnerable to exploitation, experts and officials said at a national workshop said.
Lack of an identity might bar children from financial transactions, social security, inheritance rights, health care, education, employment, legal protection, travel and communications, they said at the two-day workshop on “Birth Registration – the 7th Article of the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child” jointly organised here Thursday by Ministry of Local Development (MoLD), PLAN International Nepal and UNICEF.
The local authorities should be mobilised to make the birth registration effective at the grass-root level, they said.
The programme participated in by 120 representatives from governments, local bodies, national and international non-governmental organisations aimed at preparing a plan of action to improve birth registration in Nepal. The workshop would also share findings of the recent survey with concerned authorities, discuss the issues of delayed and non-registration of birth, bring all stakeholders interested in child right together to ensure that every child is registered, and create a better collaboration among the responsible agencies about the need for universal birth registration, they said.
State Minister for Women, Children and Social Welfare Kamala D. Panta in her inaugural speech pointed out some legal difficulties in the registration process and said that they had to be removed to make it effective. “The registration, an essential proof for the children to achieve citizenship certificate, should be based on the mother’s identity and the information provided by her who is an authentic source.”
State Minister Panta said that the registration in the rural areas is low due to lack of awareness among people about its importance. “A co-ordination between the government and the local authorities will make the registration process effective and result-oriented.”
Chief Secretary Tirtha Man Shakya said that the government would take initiatives to improve the provisions. “The registration will be effective if the local representatives are given the task.”
Besides, the government could lift the late registration fees if need be, he added.
According to the provision, a child has to be registered within 35 days of its birth.
MoLD Registrar Badri Prasad Parajuli said that a joint participation of government organisations, private sectors as well as civil society was essential for the enhancement of the programme.
Welcoming the participants and guests earlier, PLAN International Asia Regional Director Dr Donal Keane said that the proportion of registered children was higher (51.7 per cent) in the Terai than in the Hills and Mountains (29.1 per cent). He said that the workshop would provide an opportunity to understand the complexity of the issues involved in protecting all children’s rights to a name and a nationality. “The lack of identity will make children increasingly vulnerable to exploitation as our world becomes more closely linked due to improved technology, international trade, travel and migration.”
UNICEF Resident Representative Stewart said that the rights of children had received extraordinary attention in Nepal since the ratification of the UN Convention on the rights of children.
The birth registration, which is linked with various rights of children, is crucial for the development of a democratic society that protects children from exploitation and promotes the civil rights of its citizens, he added.