Legal identity Birth registration is operationally defined as the basic characteristics that comprise an individual’s identity, including name, sex and date of birth.3 The primary vehicle for obtaining a legal identity is through the birth registration process. This establishes the existence of a person under the law and provides legal proof of his or her identity.4 Birth certificate is a vital record, issued by the civil registrar, that documents the birth of a child. Because it is a certified extract from the birth registration record, it proves that registration has occurred – making this document the first, and often only, proof of legal identity, particularly for children.5 Civil registrars 8 is the official recording of the occurrence and characteristics of a birth by the civil registrar within the civil registry, in accordance with the legal requirements of a country. Birth certificates are often required to access health care, education and other social services. In Viet Nam, for instance, birth certificates are required for enrolment in both preschool and primary school.6 Having legal identification is also critical in protecting children from violence and exploitation. Proof of age can be used to prevent child labour (through the enforcement of minimum age of employment laws), recruitment into the armed forces, prosecution as an adult in criminal proceedings and child marriage. Moreover, birth certification is legal proof of one’s place of birth and family ties. Thus, it is necessary for establishing a nationality and preventing the risk of statelessness. Later in life, birth certificates may be required to obtain social assistance or a job in the formal sector, to buy or inherit property, and to vote. are the officials authorized by law to carry out the registration of vital events, including births, within a well-defined area (such as a country, district or municipality) and for recording and reporting information on those vital events for legal and statistical purposes.7 Birth Registration for Every Child by 2030: Are we on track?