Malawi
Impact of the universal birth registration campaign
Before the universal birth registration campaign was launched in 2005
Under the vital registration system, fewer than 5% of under-fives were registered. Between 1999 and 2003, registration took place in nine out of 28 districts, when 377,103 births and 191,944 orphans were registered.
Following the campaign
Now, about 10% of under-fives are registered. Just over 600,000 children have been registered through the village children’s registers.
Government policy and practice on birth registration
The government has been supportive of birth registration initiatives. The cabinet approved the National Registration Bill 2005, which included the compulsory birth registration of all children. However, because of competing political interests, this was not considered in the lifetime of the Parliament that dissolved before the May 2009 general election.
The Office of the President and Cabinet, through the National Registration Bureau, has been very active in introducing village birth registrars in seven of the 28 districts. Following these initiatives, the government issued birth registration certificates to children in one district of Mwanza in 2008. This initiative followed the vital registration exercise conducted between 1999 and 2003. It is hoped that these initiatives, along with lobbying Members of Parliament on UBR, will increase pressure on Parliament to pass the National Registration Bill towards the end of 2009.
Universal birth rights campaign strategy
Strategy
Plan Malawi is increasing advocacy on birth registration legislation through partnerships with institutions such as the Ministry of Women and Child Development, Ministry of Home Affairs (which established the National Registration Bureau), Malawi Human Rights Commission and UNICEF, among others.
Aim of campaign
- To lobby Parliament to pass the National Registration Bill 2005.
- To create awareness of the need for universal, free and mandatory birth registration in Malawi.
- To help the government establish an effective registration systems for births and deaths.
- To coordinate and network with institutions promoting birth registration in Malawi and beyond.
- To achieve effective commitment from government and civil society to advance birth registration as a fundamental right of children and as a foundation to national registration.
Outcomes
- Policy and legislation changes
Along with our partner organisations, Plan Malawi took part in the drafting of the National Registration Bill 2005. Over the years, we have also participated in advocacy activities, such as lobbying MPs on the National Registration Bill.
- Partnerships, coordination, cooperation, alliances and coalitions
Plan Malawi has worked in partnership with the organisations mentioned above in advocacy activities, such as lobbying for the National Registration Bill. In one year, the Day of the African Child was celebrated on the theme of birth registration.
- Government capacity and practice
Following concerted efforts on UBR from various organisations, the government established the National Registration Bureau. The Bureau put in place pilot programmes on children’s birth registration in seven sampled districts from 2005, in preparation for the mass registration of children anticipated when the National Registration Bill had been passed. The Bureau has been active in introducing village birth registrars in these seven districts.
- Community awareness
Plan Malawi, in partnership with other organisations, has carried out community awareness-raising activities, not only in its impact areas but also beyond. For instance, Plan posters on national registration were distributed in a number of districts, and we have made several radio programmes on the importance of birth registration for all children in the country.
- Linking birth registration to other children’s rights, such as increased access to health, education, inheritance rights and protection from trafficking, child labour etc
Our radio programmes on child rights have covered the importance of UBR and its links with increased access to social services.
- Involving children in the UBR campaign
Children have been involved directly in education, information and communication strategies. They actively participate in child open days held to increase the awareness of parents and community members of the importance of UBR.
Good practice
Plan Malawi's lobbying of MPs on the National Registration Bill, along with our partners, went very well. After a lobbying meeting, the Legal Affairs Committee of Parliament met to discuss the bill and were ready to support it in Parliament, and they started lobbying their fellow parliamentarians on the need to prioritise the bill. The lobbying initiative was based on the concerted efforts of various players, it was cost-effective, as the expenses were shared, and out combined voices had an impact on MPs.
Challenges, gaps and barriers
The main challenge has been the non-consideration of the National Registration Bill by Parliament due to competing political interests.
The other challenge is the need to increase awareness of the importance of UBR, as communities and families have raised children over the years without a UBR system in place.
National level recommendations
The move to birth registration has to involve all the duty-bearers, starting with the primary duty-bearer - the government - and the secondary duty-bearers, including civil society and community members at the grassroots. Plan is already working in partnership with these duty-bearers, and it is now important to increase these efforts to spread ownership among the duty-bearers and integrate human rights principles in the initiatives.
Future activities
- Continued advocacy on the UBR legal framework so that government enacts the National Registration Bill as a matter of priority.
- Lobbying Parliament to allocate enough resources to facilitate free registration for all children.
- Continued awareness-raising on the importance of UBR.
Do you have any high-profile supporters of Plan’s UBR campaign?
The various institutions that work in partnership with Plan Malawi.
