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BIRTH AND DEATH REGISTRATION SENSITIZATION KICKS OFF | |
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The Bureau of Statistics in collaboration with the United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) will embark in a campaign to sensitize civil servants, members of Non-Governmental Organizations (NGOs) and chiefs on the importance of birth and death registration. In an interview, the UNICEF Programme Communication officer Mrs. 'Malineo Mots'ephe said the campaign is held after noticing that people do not border registering their children after they are born. She stated that the reluctance to register children's birth makes it impossible for government through its planning ministry to make policies that could address children's needs. She further said parents deny children their rights to register their names, something which she said is contrary to the provisions of the national constitution that stipulate that a child has a right to registration of a name as well as other social services. Mrs. Mots'ephe however noted with concern that 50 percent of children are registered, while only 24 percent of the registered children get their certificates, saying that prevents the government from making proper statistics. She emphasized need for children to be given their rights such as right to education, which she said is a foundation of the country's economic growth, adding that it is high time that children are also protected by laws of the country. She mentioned that the sensitization campaign focuses to heads of departments in various districts, members of NGOs and chiefs as they are service providers to the public. The heads of departments, members of NGOs from Mafeteng, Mohale's Hoek and Quthing will attend a one-day birth and death registration sensitization workshop at Mohale's Hoek on Thursday, while chiefs from the same districts will be sensitized on Friday 04 September,2002
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| SOURCE: LENA |