Birth Registration: The Key to Social Inclusion in Latin America and the Caribbean

Birth registration is a fundamental human right and constitutes legal proof of a child's existence and nationality. Without adequate documentation to verify identity, a person can become excluded from the benefits of living in society and can be condemned to social exclusion. In the Latin American and Caribbean region, 9 percent of children from zero to four years of age do not have a birth certificate. This publication presents some of the challenges that these children face in accessing health and education services in countries throughout the region. It also identifies the main obstacles that undermine the registration process. The publication concludes with recommendations to both improve the registration services offered and increase the citizens' demand for these services.