SUBMISSIONS ON THE DIGITALISATION OF BIRTH REGISTRATION IN AFRICA: CHALLENGES AND OPPORTUNITIES FOR CHILDREN’S RIGHTS

SECTION27 has made submissions to the Office of the African Committee of Experts on the Rights and Welfare of the Child (ACERWC), in response to the Special Rapporteur’s call for inputs on the Digitalisation of Birth Registration in Africa: Challenges and Opportunities for Children’s Rights.

Our submission focuses on how digital birth registration can advance or hinder children’s rights, particularly in relation to basic education and access to healthcare in South Africa. We emphasise the importance of aligning digital systems with constitutional and international obligations, particularly the principle of the best interests of the child.