 Born in a field as his mother was helping plant crops, 10-year-old Brian Yahya Setiawan is like the majority of poor Indonesian children - he has no government birth record. He and his two siblings officially do not exist. (THANE BURNETT/SUN MEDIA)
|
DONGKALAN, Indonesia -- This week marks the 50th Anniversary of the United Nations adoption of the Declaration of the Rights of the Child. And with the clock counting down to a 2015 deadline to achieve the U.N.'s Millennium Development Goals -- eight measures to cut poverty in half -- Sun Media takes an in-depth look at the state of global poverty.
With the help of World Vision -- which launches a major Global Child Health Campaign this week (www.childhealthnow.org) -- we traveled to remote areas of Indonesia to chart success and failure.
---
Brian Yahya Setiawan doesn't exist.
Not officially. Not like you and I.
In western nations, we take the many official records made during our lives for granted. We're raising children who Google their own names -- and can get results -- before they reach high school.
But in many developing countries, generations are born without official birth records. In Indonesia, across vast sections of the country, as many as three in four children may not be listed on the population's roster.
It can affect getting into schools, being recognized for government support, and even in some border communities, create a debate on citizenship.
There is no cabinet, in any government office, with Brian's vital stats filed away.
No proof, other than his family's love, that the ten-year-old boy who lives down a road passable only by foot or motorcycle, even exists.
No document that outlines he was born in a field, during planting time.
And though they were born later in the family's house high up stilts, the same is true for Brian's two younger siblings.
The Indonesian government, recognizing the problems the lack of records is having on managing the affairs of the poor, has worked to lower the cost and even sent officials into the field to gather up personal information.
In many regions, they are expected to further a grace period, before they raise the cost of getting a birth certificate long after a child is born.
But standing in the way is not just a delay in applying, but a lack of paperwork stretching to their parents, including something as obvious as a marriage certificate.
Without that, and his own proof of life, Brian will be held back throughout his life.
He will be like his parents -- here, but officially not.
So to at least provide the government with marriage licenses, to help their children, communities like this one are organizing a mass solution -- a large community marriage ceremony for local parents needing a certificate.
"We would have to do it," says his mom, Sarce Adong, as she nurses a feverish baby. Without it, (Brian) will not be able to attend junior high school."
Even more than herself and her husband, she wants her children to have their names in a book of records.
To officially exist.
---
Which countries are the worst at registering children?
The worst affected region is South Asia, where it is estimated that 64% of children are not registered at birth.
Sub-Saharan Africa 63%
CEE/CIS and Baltic States 8%
East Asia/Pacific 28%
Middle East/North Africa 25%
Latin America/Caribbean 11%
Industrialised countries 2%
Source: U.K. based group, Plan, which is pushing for universal birth registration.
-
48,000,000 Number of child births around the world every year that go unrecorded.
300,000 Number of undocumented children in Bolivia.
5,000,000 Number of Mexicans lacking birth certificates in 2004.
94% Births in Afghanistan, 2000-08, that went unregistered.
25% Children born in in area hospitals in Mumbai, India, that went without birth certificates.
5% Babies born in Somalia and Liberia that are documented.
- Those without birth certificates can be denied papers to travel, marriage certificates or even the right to drive.
- As children become adults, not having proper birth papers impacts owning land, opening a bank account or casting a vote.
- Not having a proper paper trail, often allows children to more easily be used as child labour or in the sex trade.
- Illegal adoptions are made easier with no formal paper trail.
- Children without birth certificates often go without proper health benefits or continued schooling.
