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Home Affairs plans to discontinue birth certificates for foreign children

Source: EWN, 16/11/2018

Lawyers for Human Rights says the new regulations propose that foreign
children be issued with a `confirmation of birth` and not a birth
certificate
CAPE TOWN - Legal groups have raised concern over the Home Affairs
Department`s plan to discontinue birth certificates for foreign
children born in South Africa.
The public has until Friday to comment on proposed new regulations to
the Births and Deaths Registration Act as it pertains to refugees.
Lawyers for Human Rights, the Centre for Child Law, the University of
Cape Town`s Refugee Rights and the Scalabrini Centre of Cape Town say
previously all children were issued with birth certificates, as is
required by the Constitution and international law on children`s rights.
Lawyers for Human Rights says the new regulations propose that foreign
children be issued with a `confirmation of birth` and not a birth
certificate.
The organisation`s Liesl Muller says every child has the right to a
birth certificate.
She adds in terms of international law, it is the responsibility of
the country of birth to issue a birth certificate, regardless of
whether citizenship is granted or not.
â€œThe problem with this is that no child can live a normal life without
a birth certificate, and the child cannot access basic education and
healthcare.â€
Muller says the draft regulation requires children to present their
confirmation of birth to their embassy in order to obtain a birth
certificate from their country of nationality.
â€œThere are certain groups with children who are particularly
vulnerable who wonâ€™t be able to, for instance, theyâ€™ve fled their
country and their refugee protection will be removed.â€

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