Birth registration: How we are helping to protect the invisible children of Pakistan

girl carry item on her head walking away into the distance

Imagine having no official record of your existence. No legal proof that you are who you are. For millions of children in Pakistan, this is their everyday experience.

Authors

  • Fayyaz Mohammad Monitoring, Evaluation, Research, and Learning (MERL) Lead, Pakistan and Nepal
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A birth certificate might seem like a simple document, but for a child, it represents much more. It's a fundamental protection, a key that opens access to essential rights and services. In a context where poverty, social norms, and weak legal enforcement create significant challenges for children, an official record can provide critical safeguards.

The unseen vulnerability

In Pakistan, being unregistered carries profound consequences. Without an official birth record, children face increased risks of early marriage and child labour. They remain outside the protective frameworks that should ensure their safety and development.

The United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child and the Sustainable Development Goals recognise birth registration as a fundamental human right. Global statistics underscore the urgency: one in five young women are married before turning 18, and one in ten children are engaged in labour.

Policy and data implications

The last comprehensive Child Labour Survey in Pakistan dates back to 1996, creating a substantial monitoring gap spanning over two decades. This data deficit represents a critical challenge for evidence-based policymaking. The Aawaz II initiative addresses this directly by providing technical assistance to complete child labour surveys in Punjab and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, bringing renewed visibility to children's living conditions and exposure to risk.

The project's quantitative impact has been significant. Through targeted interventions, the initiative has registered 3.46 million children, representing a 39% increase in birth registrations. However, the team recognises that true progress requires addressing persistent registration gaps, particularly for girl children, minority communities, children with disabilities, and transgender children.

A collaborative approach to visibility

The FCDO-funded Aawaz II initiative in Pakistan, with UNICEF and the British Council as implementing partners, is addressing this critical issue by promoting accessible birth registration systems across Punjab and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. The approach demonstrates a nuanced understanding of systemic challenges, involving close collaboration between provincial governments, UN agencies, community-level organisations, and digital transformation strategies.

Breaking barriers, building futures

The project's strategies involve community engagement forums, targeted awareness campaigns, and capacity-building activities. These efforts are designed to address the cultural and systemic barriers that have historically prevented comprehensive registration.

By digitising registration systems and collaborating closely with provincial governments, Aawaz II is creating a more comprehensive understanding of population dynamics. This work helps generate accurate data that can inform policy and resource allocation to better support children's needs.

Research and recommendations

The Independent Feedback, Operational Reviews and Monitoring (I-FORM) team identified critical priorities for future interventions. They recommended targeted engagement with poor households, developing detailed population mapping, conducting baseline studies to identify marginalised communities, building capacity for police and judiciary on child protection laws, and leveraging enhanced digital communication tools for community outreach.

The aim for 2030

The journey to protect every child's right to identity continues. Progress requires commitment from government, civil society, and communities working together to ensure no child is left unrecognised or unprotected.

As we look toward 2030 and beyond, the message is clear: every child deserves to be counted and supported. A birth certificate provides children with a fundamental tool to access their rights and protect their future. 

About the author:
Fayyaz Mohammad is the Research and Evidence (R&E) Practice Lead for Pakistan and Nepal. He was the Project Manager of OPM’s Aawaz II Evaluation project during 2023-24. 

Area of expertise