In Zambia, in December, the Office of the
Commissioner for Refugees, in collaboration with the
Department of National Registration, Passport, and
Citizenship, conducted birth registration exercises in
the Mantapala refugee settlement and Lusaka. The
number of children registered is yet to be released
by the government.
In the Dominican Republic, from October to
December, UNHCR, in collaboration with UNICEF,
launched an information campaign on Law 04-23
regarding birth registration rights and procedures.
The campaign was developed with community
participation to improve access to birth registration
and support ongoing civil registration efforts led
by the Central electoral board. Materials will be
distributed in hard-to-reach communities in early
2025.
In Haiti, between October and December, UNHCR
partnered with ICDH (Initiative Citoyenne pour les
Droits de l’Homme) to address civil documentation
needs for IDPs in the Sud Department. Key activities
included strengthening the civil registry system,
supplying office materials, and conducting mobile
birth registration drives. This initiative reached
13,878 individuals, resulting in the issuance of birth
certificates or extracts for 3,471 people. Additionally,
71 government officials and community leaders were
trained for long-term sustainability. In the Nord-Est
Department, UNHCR, through its partner OCNH
(Organisation des Citoyens pour une Nouvelle Haïti),
reinforced the civil registry system to support Haitian
returnees. In October, civil registrars and clerks
attended a session on birth registration, receiving
vital materials such as birth registers and forms. Site
visits to eight municipalities resulted in a diagnostic
report on the state of civil registry offices.
In Venezuela, between November and December,
UNHCR supported late birth registration for 77
children in Sucre and Zulia States, including 29
indigenous children. This initiative, carried out
in collaboration with HIAS and governmental
authorities, ensured vulnerable children received
necessary documentation.
South Sudan adopted Civil registration and national
identification regulations, providing guidelines for
civil registry and vital statistics (CRVS) operations.
UNHCR partner ICDH staff assist a woman in obtaining her birth
registration in Haiti, January 2025 ©ICDH
In Burkina Faso, UNHCR, in partnership with the
General Directorate for the modernization of civil
status, supported civil documentation issuance for
IDPs and vulnerable host community members. Out
of nine target regions, 14,378 civil documents were
issued, including 10,339 birth certificates and 4,039
national identity cards.
In the Central African Republic, in November,
UNHCR provided seven birth registers to Boda and
Boganangone communes. Additionally, in December,
650 birth registers were purchased and will be
distributed to civil registry centers in 2025.
In December, Cameroon adopted Law N° 2024/016
on civil registration, modernizing the system in line
with international standards. The law introduces
a unique personal identification number, extends
birth registration deadlines, and incorporates
digitalization. Additionally, Cameroon adopted Law
N° 2024/015 on civil protection, enhancing disaster
and crisis management for forcibly displaced
persons facing civil documentation challenges.
UNHCR > The Campaign to End Statelessness | October – December 2024 Update
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