the binding norm by which all employees at the RG's office conduct themselves among themselves and between them and citizens seeking services from them. Bureaucratic hurdles Bureaucratic procedures in getting some identity documents were considered a challenge by most of the women. The women noted that the Office of the R-G has its own set of rules and requirements, varying from place to place, which causes confusion as the women do not know exactly what they need to get identity documents. For example, in some areas, proof of residence is required while in others it is not. In some areas, it is easy for single mothers to get birth certificates for their children using their maiden name, while, in other areas they are required to bring the father of the child, which is against the law which clearly states that women can get birth certificates for their children without the father, should they want to. As a result, some single mothers can not acquire birth certificates for their children without the father, leaving the children vulnerable and likely to go for prolonged periods in life without birth certificates. The women had this to say: “I wanted to get a passport for my child but they wanted me to bring proof of residence. I do not own a property. The house I live in belongs to my father but he passed away before changing the title deeds from the previous owner’s name into his name. I do not know how to resolve this issue so I can get a passport for my child” "When a child goes to get an ID, they are asked the name of their village headman and the chief, but if the child does not have that information they can get turned away." In some cases, the women are told to bring proof of residence in order to get an ID or a passport, yet in other places the birth certificate is considered as sufficient proof of an individual’s origin. Another woman also stated: “We are told to bring the landlord and his ID and his proof of residence and an affidavit that I am his tenant. Which landlord would agree to be dragged to the registries office at 4 in the morning in order to be there when you get served at 7 am?” Recommendations 9  The RG's office should issue a public circular which explains in short, precise points and demystifies the requirements for citizens to access each document that the office is responsible for issuing collaborating its efforts with those already underway civil society organisations such as the Legal Resources Foundation. This will ensure that citizens are not confused about what to bring and it will also ensure that the processes are more transparent.  The RG should also distribute among its employees decision of the courts that have changed previous practices and ensure that these decisions are implemented uniformly and consistently across the country. For instance, decisions of the High Court and Supreme Court enabling women to register their children9 and to acquire passports for their children10 significantly change the processes women Rumbidzai Cleo Katedza v Adrian Tulani Chunga and the Registrar of Births and Deaths Case No. HC1043/03 in which the ruling of the court meant that the mother of a child born out of an unregistered customary law union has the right to name her child, and register that name on the child’s birth certificate without the consent of