Children without identity: the challenge of birth registration

A birth certificate is the first official recognition of a child’s existence. Yet in Benin, as in many sub-Saharan African countries, many children grow up without being registered with the civil registry. The reasons are many and varied, including a lack of knowledge about the procedures, the distance from administrative centers, or parental neglect. But the government has introduced new reforms that allow newborns and adults to obtain their civil registration documents with ease.

In certain neighborhoods of Benin’s major cities, it is not uncommon to encounter children who have never been registered at birth. This situation, although often downplayed by some families, can seriously jeopardize these children’s futures. In Benin, the law requires that every birth be reported to the civil registry office within a short period of time. 

This formality allows for the issuance of a birth certificate, which serves as an individual’s first identity document. In practice, however, this deadline is frequently missed. When this happens, parents must initiate a more complex procedure known as a supplementary judgment, issued by a court. This process can discourage some families due to the costs and administrative hurdles involved.

For sociologist Maurice ANAGO, the lack of a birth certificate is a genuine social problem. “A child without a birth certificate is legally invisible. The child may exist within the community but not in administrative records. This means that the government cannot officially recognize the child’s identity,” he explains. 

The consequences of this situation often become apparent very early in a child’s life. At school, for example, the lack of a birth certificate can become a major obstacle when a student needs to register for official exams such as the Certificate of Primary Education or the Lower Secondary School Diploma. Without this document, it becomes difficult, if not impossible, to pursue a normal educational path. In some cases, the children affected are forced to drop out of school because they cannot regularize their administrative status.

In some areas, the distance between villages and civil registry offices is often an obstacle. Some parents must travel several kilometers to register a birth. In other cases, this failure to register is simply due to a lack of information. Many parents are still unaware of the importance of birth registration. 

Raising awareness remains a major challenge, according to the civil registrar, who requested anonymity. “Many parents think that a birth certificate is only needed for school. However, this document is essential throughout one’s life for obtaining an ID card, a passport, or even for getting legally married,” he emphasizes.

Recognizing the scale of the problem, Beninese authorities have taken several steps in recent years to improve birth registration. Awareness campaigns are regularly organized in municipalities. In addition, mobile court sessions sometimes make it possible to regularize the administrative status of many children through the issuance of collective supplementary court orders, and the presence of the National Agency for Personal Identification in every district allows families to voice their concerns and have them addressed. 

Certain international organizations also support the government through ANIP by providing technical and financial assistance. Despite these efforts, the challenge remains significant. Ensuring the systematic registration of births is not merely an administrative formality. Above all, it is about guaranteeing every child a legal identity and the opportunity to fully exercise their rights. Experts believe the solution lies in strengthening civil registration services, raising public awareness, and simplifying administrative procedures.