Civil society action for birth registration

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In January 2010 the UNHCR Standing Committee decided to produce two conclusions that year on the protection of persons with disabilities and on birth registration.
The Committee started negotiations on the protection of persons with disabilities which were completed just before the annual Executive Committee meeting in the fall. Consequently no time was left that year to embark on a second conclusion. In addition to this challenge, several member

States expressed difficulty with being prepared to negotiate a draft conclusion on birth registration without a closer examination of several complex technical issues. They called for further briefing on the issue and further consultation meetings before the start of the negotiations. Much of this has been suspended to make way for UNHCR’s year long campaign on statelessness.

 

Convention on the Reduction of Statelessness

UNHCR is calling upon States to demonstrate greater support for the Convention on the Reduction of Statelessness, ranging from becoming a signature to taking a number of practical measures to bring them in compliance with the standards. UNHCR argues that acceeding to the Convention:

  • Is a way for States to demonstrate their commitment to human rights and humanitarian standards, including the right to a nationality

  • Enables States to address gaps caused by different approaches to the attribution of nationality through the recognition of common safeguards

  • Enables children to be afforded protection as citizens and integrated in society

  • Boosts legal transparency and predictability in the response of States to the threat of stateless ness through the promotion of common safeguards

  • Prevents displacement by promoting the enjoyment of the right to a nationality

  • Promotes enfranchisement and the full participation of individuals in society

  • Helps to mobilize international efforts to prevent statelessness.

 

The Convention on the Rights of the Child, which is based on other human rights instruments, sets out in articles 7 and 8 the right of all children to be registered at birth and the responsibility of states to preserve their identity. The statelessness campaign therefore provides an excellent opportunity to push States parties toward living up to their commitments to the CRC.

 

Civil society action for birth registration

A small group of civil society organizations came together last year to begin an advocacy initiative for a UNHCR conclusion on birth registration. The group, which is essentially Geneva based includes Anglican UN Office, Defence for Children International, Friends World Committee for Consultation (Quakers), Plan International, Refugees International and World Vision. The group is open to collaborating with other civil society organizations in this advocacy initiative for:

a) States parties to the UN to make pledges at the Ministerial-level Meeting of States Parties on December 7-8, to improve birth registration laws, policies and practices;

b) UNHCR to prioritize a conclusion on birth registration in 2012.

 

If you would like to learn more about Plan’s work on birth registration in general or in a particular country please look at http://plan-international.org/birthregistration and/or contact Plan’s Global Campaign Assistant: Armelle.LeComte@plan-international.org

If you would like to be involved in the advocacy and lobby group on birth registration described above: please contact Denise Allen at World Vision International: Denise_Allen@wvi.org and/or Anne-Sophie Lois at Plan: anne-sophie.lois@plan-international.org

 

pdf: http://www.crin.org/docs/NGO position paper with Logos (late Feb 2011).pdf

Attachment Link: 
http://www.crin.org/docs/NGO position paper with Logos (late Feb 2011).pdf
Link : 
http://www.crin.org/docs/NGO%20position%20paper%20with%20Logos%20(late%20Feb%202011).pdf

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