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BIRTH REGISTRATION AND ITS ROLE IN PREVENTING/ADDRESING STATELESSNESS BENYAM DAWIT MEZMUR (Prof of Law, Community Law Centre). 1. Introduction. Objective The child rights imperative A score card for the region? Birth registration and statelessness: The various scenarios Some food for thought.
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BIRTH REGISTRATION AND ITS ROLE IN PREVENTING/ADDRESING STATELESSNESSBENYAM DAWIT MEZMUR(Prof of Law, Community Law Centre)
1. Introduction • Objective • The child rights imperative • A score card for the region? • Birth registration and statelessness: The various scenarios • Some food for thought
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
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?
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…
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
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
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?!
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