Virtual Discussion on the constraints and solutions for ensuring complete birth registration successfully held

30 August, Kathmandu. Virtual Discussion Meeting on the constraints and solutions for ensuring complete birth registration was successfully organized on 30 August, 2020 with the theme “Promotion of Child Friendly Local Governance; birth registration of every child”.

Director of Civil Registration section from Department of National ID and Civil Registration, Mr. Yubaraj Katel, provided presentation on the legal provisions for complete birth registration as well as challenges and possible solutions for the management of birth, death, marriage, divorce and migration certificates in the context of Nepal. Emphasising the need to keep the best interests and rights of the children in limelight during any case ambiguity in the law, he said that as the concern is related to the identity and rights of the children, all children have rights to obtain their birth registration certificate at any situations.
Similarly, the recently nominated Executive Director of National Child Rights Council Mr. Milan Raj Dharel provided insights on provisions for birth registration as per Children’s Act, and the future role of National Child Rights Council in the matter.

Stressing that the birth registration is the fundamental right of children born in any circumstances, he informed that if any child is deprived of birth registration even after the submission of the required documents to the local authority, necessary initiative will be taken by National Child Rights Council to ensure birth registration if an application along with the relevant documents is submitted to the office.
The program was moderated by Mr. Tilottam Paudel, coordinator of National CFLG Forum, as well as president of Social Protection Civil Society Network. Ms. Kunaji Pariyar Pyashi provided welcome remarks and clarification on the objectives of the program on behalf of the organizers.

The program organized by National Child Friendly Local Governance Forum (NCFLGF) in coordination with Social Protection Civil Society Network (SPCSN) and support of World Vision International Nepal (WVIN) was able to accommodate more than 100 participants representing elected representatives from the Local Government, Chief Administrative Officers, development partners like World Vision International Nepal ,Save the Children, Plan International, Civil society organizations and more than 15 child rights networks like NACG Nepal, CZOP, National Coalition for Girls Rights, Consortium, Education watch, C-NET and so on.

Open floor discussion was facilitated in the program where the participants shared their queries to the presenters, as well as views and opinions. Placing their queries, Rabin Nepali, Madhav Pradhan, Surendra Shakya, Ambika KC, Santa Ram Dangol and many other participants raised critical questions related to the birth registration of the most marginalized children like LGBTIQ, orphan, children born from child marriage as well as single mothers, children raised at maternal home and child homes. Assuring complete birth registration is compulsory for the declaration of CFLG in any Local Level Institution, as it is a vital indicator for the overall protection of child rights. The participants urged for focused intervention on the matter by ensuring accessible and easier mechanisms for the children born in most difficult circumstances.

Mr. Shree Krishna Thapa concluded the program with a closing speech as well as vote of thanks for all the contributory personnel and organizations. The program was also aired live through the Face book page of National CFLG Forum https://www.facebook.com/ncflgforum