7. At a practical level, the greatest obstacle to the effective realization of the right to a nationality in Africa is the lack of functional and universal civil registration systems. Absent proof of the circumstances of a child’s birth – both the child’s parentage and place of birth – it is very difficult to ensure that the child obtains recognition of its nationality, whether that of his or her parents, or of the State where he or she is born. 8. More importantly, the Committee recalls that the African Union Conference of Ministers in Charge of Civil Registration recommended the strengthening of Civil Registration and Vital Statistics (CRVS) Systems across the Continent as a development imperative. The Conference further recognized the importance of CRVS in ensuring good governance, in the realisation of human rights and in measuring the progress of development. The Committee is of the view that the rights to a name, to birth registration and to a nationality under review in this General Comment cannot be fully implemented without strong CRVS Systems in States parties. 1.2. Purpose 9. Notwithstanding its heading (Name and Nationality), Article 6 recognizes three interlinked rights namely the right to a name (Art 6 (1)), the right to birth registration (Art 6 (2)) and the right to a nationality (Art 6 (3)). It also provides for state obligations with regard to the implementation of the right to a nationality (Art 6 (4)). The purpose of this General Comment is to give the meaning and scope of these rights and explain the corresponding obligations of the States parties to the Charter for their implementation. Africa: A Comparative Study, Open Society Foundation, 2nd edition, 2010. 6