Donor: UNICEF
In 2006, the Government of Bangladesh adopted a strategy aiming at achieving universal birth registration by 2008. During the same year, the 2004 Births and Deaths Registration Act entered into force and its corresponding five rules were adopted, recognizing the birth certificate as proof of age for essential services. In addition, the Act provides for free registration for all within the first two years of the entry into force of the law. This provision is now being amended to reflect the Government’s decision to extent free of cost registration for children until December 2008. UNICEF is supporting the Government through the Ministry of Local Government, Rural Cooperatives and Development in the establishment of a national computerized birth registration system to accelerate the registration of children in particular vulnerable children.
It is estimated that 10% of CHT children was missed out on birth registration during 2006 -2008 birth registration campaign Mainly indigenous children living in the remote areas of the Chittagong Hill Tracts (CHT) region have been identified as one category of vulnerable children that are likely to miss out on birth registration Although, the CHT is covered by the UBR strategy, due to the different geographical nature and the cultural specificities, it was recognized that there might be impediments to ensuring birth registration for children in particular in the remote parts of this area.
Services
In partnership with UNICEF CIPD implemented the project during August – October,2009 in Ra Rangamati. CIPD organized workshop at Upazila level with UP Chairmen, UP Members, Local leaders,Traditional leaders and elite persons for setting strategy and work plan to ensure birth registration of missed our children. Upazila supervisors & Union Facilitators collected the particulars of unregistered children through Karbaries, all data of unregistered children were submitted to UP Chairman offices for registration. Most of the facilitators were recognized as enumerator by UP chairman and have filled up the application forms and registered with UP offices and 8701 children were registered..