Sudan High Court: No Birth Registration Without Father's Details

• Thousands of children are being born without legal identity in Sudan due to conflict.
• Mothers often lack information about their child's father, making it difficult to register births.
• Lack of registration can lead to challenges like poverty, violence, and exploitation for these children.
• Humanitarian organisations and governments must address the issue of birth registration in conflict-affected areas.

Registering a child requires identity information, a national number and a birth certificate. But when the father is absent or unknown, it becomes extremely difficult.

In Sudan, a country ravaged by conflict, thousands of children are being born without any legal identity. Amira, a 17-year-old girl from el-Fasher, is one such example. She was abducted by three armed men from the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) and held captive for two months, during which she was repeatedly raped. After her ordeal, she discovered she was pregnant and gave birth at a hospital run by the International Medical Corps. However, despite receiving support from a Sudanese aid organisation, Nada Al-Azhar Foundation, Amira has been unable to register her son's birth due to lack of information about his father. This is not an isolated case, but rather part of a larger reality in areas experiencing conflict across Sudan.

In Sudan, registering a child requires identity information, a national number, and a birth certificate. However, when the father is absent or unknown, it becomes extremely difficult for mothers to provide this information. This can lead to children being born without any legal identity, making them vulnerable to various challenges. According to Abu Bakr Yousif Yaqoub, Nada's director of protection programmes, 'Registering a child requires identity information, a national number and a birth certificate. But when the father is absent or unknown, it becomes extremely difficult.' He highlights that mothers are often alone and may themselves be children who need care, limiting their ability to care for their babies.

The lack of legal identity for children born in conflict-affected areas can have significant implications for their future. Amira's story is a stark reminder of the challenges she and her son face. Without registration, they cannot access essential services like education, healthcare, or social services. This can lead to long-term consequences, including poverty, violence, and exploitation. Lawyers and compliance officers should be aware of these risks when operating in regions affected by conflict. The situation highlights the need for humanitarian organisations and governments to address the issue of birth registration in conflict-affected areas.

Lawyers and compliance officers should be aware that the lack of birth registration for children born during conflict in Sudan can have significant implications for their future, including access to education, healthcare, and social services. This may also create compliance risks for organizations operating in the region.

Source: Original reporting via BBC