Birth registration drive in Sudan

The rate of birth registration in Sudan is the focus of a major meeting taking place today in Khartoum.

Health officials from Sudan's government, United Nations agencies and non-governmental organisations are set to discuss ways to increase the levels of birth registration in the country.

Per Engebak, Unicef's acting representative to Sudan, commented that registering births can help to protect health and human rights.

He stated: "Without birth registration, children’s access to basic social services such as education and health care are put at risk. Without documented proof of age, a child is exposed to the risk of under-age recruitment, to exploitative child labour and to the evil of trafficking.

"Without that simple piece of paper in their hands, children who are separated from their families in times of crisis may be unable to provide critical information that would help with their reunification."

Less than one third of children in Sudan have a birth certificate, according to a 2006 Sudan Household Health Survey.

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