Why Birth Registration Matters…
Birth registration provides formal recognition by the state of a child’s birth and creates a permanent, official record of their existence (UNICEF, Every Child’s Birth Right: Inequities and Trends in Birth Registration, 2013).
It is a fundamental right. The United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child recognises every child’s right to be registered immediately after birth, to have a name and to acquire a nationality.
The importance of birth registration is also recognised in the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals. Target 16.9 calls for legal identity for all, including birth registration, by 2030.
Yet millions of children and adults around the world remain without official recognition. Without a birth certificate, people can face barriers to education, healthcare, legal protection and opportunities that many of us take for granted.
KNOWN – Our response to the need...
At STURR, we believe that every person matters. Every child is created by God, known by Him and has value, dignity and purpose.
KNOWN exists to help children gain official recognition through birth registration, while building awareness of God’s presence in their lives.
Working alongside local partners and communities, KNOWN seeks to do more than help families navigate the practical challenges of registration. It aims to build relationships, raise awareness and encourage a change in understanding — helping parents and communities recognise the importance of a child’s identity, both in the eyes of the state and in the sight of God.
For a child whose existence has gone officially unrecorded, a birth certificate can be an important step towards recognition, protection and access to essential services. For KNOWN, it is also an opportunity to affirm a deeper truth: a child may be unknown to the system, but they are never unknown to God.
Inspired by Isaiah 43:1, “I have called you by name; you are mine,” KNOWN seeks to bring together the practical importance of civil identity and the Christian conviction that every person is known and valued by God.
Our purpose is simple: to help children become legally recognised, while encouraging families and communities to understand that every child is known, valued and has a place in society.
Why Is Birth Registration Important?
1. A fundamental human right
Birth registration provides official evidence of a person’s legal identity, family relationships and, where established, nationality. It helps protect children from exploitation, child labour, child marriage, trafficking and unlawful detention, while supporting their access to healthcare, education and social protection.
2. Access to services and opportunities
A birth certificate is often the first step towards obtaining other identity documents and accessing essential services and rights. It can help people enrol in school, take examinations, register land, vote, obtain a passport and open a bank account, subject to national laws and requirements.
3. Better planning and governance
Accurate birth registration helps governments understand their populations, monitor demographic changes and plan essential services and resources more effectively.
Birth registration is more than a certificate. It is a vital step towards recognition, protection and participation in society.
Types of Birth Registration
Birth registration is generally classified into three categories, depending on when the birth is registered under national law:
- On-time registration: The birth is registered within the legally specified period, usually within 90 days.
- Late registration: The birth is registered after the initial deadline but within an officially permitted grace period.
- Delayed registration: The birth is registered after the prescribed period, often more than one year after birth, and may require additional documentation or procedures.