In Asia and in Africa, less than half of children are currently registered. The European Commission announced the launching of a EU-UNICEF project to be implemented in Nigeria, Burkina Faso, Myanmar, Mozambique, Uganda, Kiribati, Vanuatu and the Solomon Islands and that will replace existing registration processes. €6 million will be allocated to the project in total. In a period of three years the gap between rural and urban rates of birth registration is expected to reduce by at least half thanks to the project.

The European Commission announced the launching of a joint project between the EU and UNICEF in order to ensure birth registration in Nigeria, Burkina Faso, Myanmar, Mozambique, Uganda, Kiribati, Vanuatu and the Solomon Islands. According to the Commission, registration of birth, sometimes known as the ‘first right’ of a child, is a passport to security, protection from abuse and violence, access to education, good health, advancement and mobility for children. In March 2012, the Commission also announced a joint project of the EU and UNICEF to end harmful traditional practices like female genital mutilation.

For the first time the new registration systems will make registration free, and will use more efficient digital techniques and include mobile technology that allows people to register even in remote areas, says the Commission. They will also help to set up better links with health services – making sure that people are registered for health facilities and immunisation, for example – as well as social protection; ensuring people can receive the support they need by being registered.

Children are often not registered due to difficult access to civil registry services, as well as the cost (both direct and indirect) of registering a birth and long distances to registration centres. This lack of an identity at birth goes on to affect people throughout their lives; making them unable to access to health care and nutrition services, school, marriage registration, protection from abuse and violence or to vote. The Commission expects that in a period of three years the gap between rural and urban rates of birth registration will be reduced by at least half thanks to the project.