CRC Concluding Observations: Niger, 2009
Published: 18/Jun/2009
Source: UN Committee on the Rights of the Child
CRC/C/NER/CO/2
Fifty-first session
CONSIDERATION OF REPORTS SUBMITTED BY STATES PARTIES UNDER ARTICLE 44 OF THE CONVENTION
Concluding observations: Niger
Birth registration
35. The Committee notes with satisfaction the adoption in 2007 of a new law on birth registration and a National Registry Policy, the appointment and training of regional and local registration officers, as well as the registration campaigns conducted to reach children who were not registered at birth. The Committee is concerned, however, at the decreasing percentage of children registered at birth due, notably, to the low performance of civil registration services, the lack of registration centres in rural areas, and the delayed remuneration of registration officers. While noting with appreciation the State party’s indication that Mahamide people living in Niger have the same rights and duties as other Niger nationals, the Committee remains concerned at the lack of registration of Mahamide children which exposes them and their families to the risk of becoming stateless.
36. The Committee urges the State party to strengthen its efforts to ensure that all children born within the national territory, especially Mahamide children, are registered. The Committee calls upon the State party to ensure that institutional registration structures are free and accessible, especially in rural and remote areas. The Committee also reiterates its previous recommendation (CRC/C/15/Add.179, para. 61) that the State party accede to the Convention relating to the Status of Stateless Persons (1954).
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