CRC Concluding Observations: Guinea Bissau, 2013
Published: 8/Jul/2013
Source: UN Committee on the Rights of the Child
CRC/C/GNB/CO/2-4
Concluding observations on the combined second to fourth periodic reports of Guinea-Bissau, adopted by the Committee at its sixty-third session (27 May–14 June 2013)
Birth registration
32. The Committee is deeply concerned that birth registration has declined from 39 per cent in 2006 to 24 per cent in 2010, and that 61.1 per cent of children under 5 years of age are not registered. The Committee is concerned at the lack of access to functioning birth registration centres at the regional level; that civil registration authorities in the regions do not have adequate materials, workspace nor transport to carry out their work; and that the cost of registration after 5 years of age is too expensive for many families.
33. The Committee strongly urges the State party to implement the Birth Registration National Action Plan promptly, and to establish intersectoral collaboration within the Government, eliminate fees and improve governance of birth registration units, to ensure that all children born within the national territory, including those living in rural and remote areas, are registered. Furthermore, the Committee urges the State party to ensure that institutional structures at all levels are accessible in all regions and free of charge, and are adapted to local realities, especially with regard to internally displaced persons and children in refugee camps. The Committee further suggests that the State party explore possibilities with the Ministry of Justice to introduce birth registration in public, private and community schools.
Nationality
34. The Committee is concerned that the State party does not have any administrative policy designed to prevent statelessness and protect stateless children.
35. The Committee recommends that the State party:
(a) Adopt an administrative policy designed to prevent statelessness and protect stateless children;
(b) Improve the administrative practices relating to civil registration in order to reduce the risk of statelessness;
(c) Identify potential stateless children, and collect data on the number of cases of stateless children residing in the country;
(d) Accede to the 1954 Convention relating to the Status of Stateless Persons and the 1961 Convention on the Reduction of Statelessness; and
(e) Amend the Law of Nationality ( Law No . 6/2010 ) to bring it in to line with the 1954 and 1961 Conventions.
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