Thematic report | 03 August 2021 of child labour in the country, with 9.4% of children aged 10–14 in the region (compared to the national average of 6%) engaged in labour (Population Census 2011; USAID 08/10/2018). Parents and caregivers of unregistered children often use informal identification documents that can be easily forged, creating additional child protection risks, particularly related to child trafficking. Children without a birth certificate have trouble accessing legal protection and justice because authorities may be unable to determine their exact ages (Avon Global Center for Women and Justice 15/08/2013; UNICEF accessed 18/05/2021). Young criminal offenders without a birth certificate may also be unable to obtain legal support and security benefits available to those under the minimum age for criminal responsibility (UNICEF accessed 18/05/2021). Lack of birth registration also makes it difficult to protect a child from sexual violence and exploitation. Human trafficking and other armed criminal activities are prevalent in Cox’s Bazar, especially in Teknaf and Ukhia (USAID 08/10/2018). Without proof of age or identity, limited access to formal justice systems increases the protection needs of children, particularly those from vulnerable households. NATIONAL BIRTH REGISTRATION PROCESS In 2001, the Birth and Death Registration Project was established under the Local Government Division1 (LGD) to promote birth registration. Legislation passed in 2006 requires parents and guardians to register births within 45 days (UNICEF 11/2015). Registration within 45 days of birth is free, but fees are charged for late birth registrations, with the amount staggered depending on the length of time since birth (BDNews24 19/12/2017). The Online Birth Registration System (BRIS) was launched in 2010 and allows anyone to apply online. An online registration system is key to preventing the falsification of a child’s age, as it is difficult to alter information once it has been entered into the digital records (Avon Global Center for Women and Justice 15/08/2013). Despite the benefits of a digital system, lack of internet literacy and access to the internet remain barriers for many people. Applying in person at a registrar’s office remains the preferred method for registering births, even though it requires several visits and poses additional costs, such as for transportation (KII 16/06/2021). For home births, applicants must provide proof of birth from a clinic or hospital, a vaccination card, or a written declaration from a local government official (KII 16/06/2021). Additional documents are required if registering 45 days after birth, although there is limited information about which additional documents are needed (KII 16/06/2021). BRIS was developed to avoid duplication of registration and establish family trees. When a child’s birth is registered online, the system asks for the parents’ birth certificate numbers and proof of certificates. When applying for birth registration in person, the registrar checks whether the parents’ births have been registered before approving the child’s registration. This process is part of a wider effort to prevent multiple registrations of the same child for education, labour, or marriage purposes. While birth registration information has begun to be documented online, the use of the BRIS platform is still limited, and its implementation is an ongoing effort (Avon Global Center for Women and Justice 15/08/2013). Who is a registrar? According to the Births and Deaths Registration Act of 2004, the registrar is responsible for registering births, maintaining the birth register, and issuing birth certificates. Who serves as registrar depends on where the applicant is born or permanently resides. • For a person born in (or who permanently resides in) a city corporation, the registrar is the mayor or an officer or commissioner to whom the mayor has delegated the responsibility. • For a person born in (or who permanently resides in) a paurashava, the registrar is the chairman of the paurashava or an officer or commissioner to whom the chairman has delegated the responsibility. • For a person born in (or who permanently resides in) a union parishad, the registrar is the chairman of the union parishad or the chairman’s delegate. • For a person born in (or who permanently resides in) a cantonment board, the registrar is the executive officer of the cantonment board or the executive officer’s delegate. • For a Bangladeshi born abroad, the registrar is any officer empowered by the ambassador of Bangladesh to the country where the person is born. BIRTH REGISTRATION PROCESS FOR COX’S BAZAR DISTRICT A government division under the Ministry of Local Government, Rural Development and Co-operatives responsible for the development and supporting of local government bodies. The Union Parishad (council), Upazila Parishad (subdistrict), Zila Parishad (district), City Corporations of Bangladesh, Municipal Corporations of Bangladesh, and Water Supply and Sewerage Authorities are the local government bodies under the Local Government Division. 1 4