˝The Invisible Citizens: Human Rights Violations in Africa due to Unregistered Births˝
In Africa, we encounter numerous violations of human rights, among which one of the most common is the lack of birth registration. This problem often occurs in poorer countries where access to basic services and government institutions is not guaranteed.
Birth registration is essential for the protection and enforcement of human rights. Without official birth registration, an individual has no access to basic services such as education, healthcare, social services and legal protection. In addition, inadequate birth registration in Africa is associated with numerous other human rights violations such as child labour, forced marriages, human trafficking and sexual violence.
One of the consequences of illegal violation of human rights resulting from inadequate birth registration is discrimination in various areas of life. A person without official birth registration is not recognized as a citizen and has no access to public services, civil rights and benefits, and employment in the public sector. In some countries, individuals without birth registration are even prohibited from entering schools, resulting in many children never learning to read or write.
The problem of inadequate birth registration in Africa is complex and requires comprehensive solutions. Governments should take measures to improve access to birth registration, including providing free registration and mobile registration units. In addition, efforts should be made to raise public awareness about the importance of birth registration and the consequences of illegal violations of human rights.
Furthermore, governments should take measures to ensure that births are registered even in the most remote and impoverished areas. This could be achieved by improving infrastructure such as
roads, telecommunications links and access to public services. It is also important to educate public officials about the importance of birth registration and the rights that stem from it.
Written by Una Lupša
