Ministry of Labour & Home Affairs (MLHA)
Don't Let Your Child Be A Nobody
19/10/11
The Ministry of Labour and Home Affairs, through the Department of Civil and National Registration (CNR), three months ago embarked on a Universal Birth Registration Campaign which was launched in Gantsi village. The campaign whose aim is to ensure 100% registration of all births in Botswana comes against the background that about 72% of births in Botswana are registered.
That means that 28% of births in this country are not registered. For the country itself, lack of registration comes with it, unclear figures of population growth, leading to misallocation of resource distribution on the socio-economic platform. Earlier this year, on the 6th of June, CNR launched the new and more secure birth certifictes, which members of the public across the country are being encouraged to apply for in cases of first time registrations/applications as well as replacements of old or lost birth certificates. Applications can be made at any CNR office across the country. The new birth certificates are more secure as they have enhanced security features to guard against fraud and to ensure the identity of individuals is protected.
Importance of Birth Registration
Some of the messages that are being shared on the importance of birth registration are that, registration of birth ensures that;
- children's inheritance is protected in the event of their parents' death
- children have access to social services
- children will have a right to a nationality
- children have care and protection
- children are protected from trafficking
- children are protected from early marraige
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