Street children enjoy birth registration success

Children proudly displaying their birth certificates at the event

27 June 2008: Ten street children in Dhaka, Bangladesh, have joined 20,000 of their peers in receiving birth certificates, thanks to Plan’s universal birth registration campaign.

Plan and Dhaka City Corporation (DCC) held a special ceremony at the city’s national theatre on 17 June to distribute certificates to the children.

Birth certificates give children an official identity, allowing them easier access to services such as education and health care, as well as protection from early marriage, child trafficking and child labour.

Vital protection

The ceremony put street children and birth registration centre stage

The children told of their joy at receiving their certificates and said they had not realised how important it was to be registered.

One street child, Sabina said: "I really did not know a birth registration certificate was so important and it is also unbelievable that I just received it from the Mayor himself.

"With the kind of life we lead on the street, we forget that we also have an identity. I know this has a lot of value and it will be of use in every step in my future."

Another, Abul Kalam, said: "I know this is so important for my future and this is my national right. I am so happy today."

Street life

There are around 400,000 street children in Dhaka and DCC has already completed the birth registration of 20,000 street children with Plan's help.

The children live on the streets, sometimes with their families and sometimes on their own, and are often vulnerable and susceptible to exploitation.

Ceremony

Officials present at the ceremony included the Mayor of DCC, Sadeque Hossain Khoka. Other special guests were Plan Bangladesh Country Director Edward Thomas Espey and UNICEF representative David Basioni.

The official ceremony was followed by a colourful and lively cultural programme of events performed by the street children. This included a short awareness raising play, a folk song and dancing.

Since 2003, Plan has helped 5,900,000 children and adults acquire official identities in Bangladesh.

Find out more about Plan’s universal birth registration campaign

Read Plan’s position on street children