Plan launches Universal Birth Registration in Liberia
Across Liberia, parents are now able to register their children’s births easily and inexpensively. Plan International, in collaboration with the government of Liberia, UNICEF, the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) and Crisis Management Initiative, has launched a decentralised, computerised birth registration and certification system – the first ever to be used in Liberia. The program is an important step toward the achieving the fundamental right of every child to a name and nationality at birth.
A birth certificate is a must
After registering her child, one rural mother said, “A birth certificate means everything”. Children with birth certificates have more opportunity to access existing services in particular health and education. By recording births, children are also better protected against trafficking and exploitation.
With only 4% of births registered annually, Liberia ranks second highest globally in unregistered births. Following a successful pilot project led by Plan in 2008, the new campaign aims to increase birth registration and certification for children under six to 90% in two years: it is a huge challenge. To inform the population and reach all the communities, Plan has produced material in 16 local languages.
Making registration easier and closer for parents
Low awareness and the centralisation of the registration process have been the main barriers for parents to register their children. In the past, birth certificates were only issued in capital city Monrovia, making registration extremely difficult for suburban and rural families. By decentralising the system, the new process will make birth registration and certification more easily accessible, even in remote villages.
Universal Birth Registration campaign in Liberia
As part of Plan’s global campaign, Plan in Liberia began advocating for UBR for all children in 2007. Following a series of meetings and consultations with the government, a UBR test project targeting certain regions was piloted in six counties in 2008.
The pilot project focused on informing and educating the public about the birth registration processes and its importance. Plan also trained 151 health workers and 303 community leaders, traditional midwives and local authorities.
Recently, Vice President of Liberia Joseph Boakai emphasized the important role birth certificates play in the achievement of other rights, accessing opportunities and protection for children who are violated, abused, conscripted into fighting force, or come in conflict with the law.
