Kenya. Registra�on of stateless Shona community © UNHCR/Georgina Goodwin Including stateless persons in iden�fica�on systems Leaving no one behind Birth registra�on is the first acknowledgement of a child’s existence and legal iden�ty, and a birth cer�ficate is part of the proof required to obtain na�onality. Its possession helps to avoid the risk of statelessness. A birth cer�ficate may also be required to access social service systems, including health, educa�on and jus�ce. One in four children under age 5 in the world are not registered today, and even when they are, they may not have proof of registra�on. An es�mated 237 million children under age 5 worldwide are currently without a birth cer�ficate.8 In many countries, individuals face technical and administra�ve obstacles, which prevent universal birth registra�on and may contribute to perpetua�ng statelessness. The SDG dedicated target (16.9) under Goal 16: provide legal iden�ty for all, including birth registra�on, by 2030,9 commits States and others to address this. Legal iden�fica�on for all is central to the objec�ve of leaving no one behind, as it can improve individuals’ quality of life and create improved social and economic opportuni�es. Legal ID systems may also lead to greater inclusion in social protec�on, financial and health systems especially for the most vulnerable groups. 7