Concluding observations on the combined second to fourth periodic reports of Eswatini<\/p>\n
CRC\/C\/SWZ\/CO\/2-4<\/p>\n
32.The Committee welcomes measures taken by the State party to increase the level of birth registration. However, it remains concerned at the low rate of birth registration and:<\/p>\n
(a)The legal and administrative barriers and requirements for registering a child;<\/p>\n
(b)The absence of registration offices, and the inaccessibility of existing offices, in some areas, particularly in rural areas;<\/p>\n
(c)The direct and indirect costs of registration services;<\/p>\n
(d)Insufficient awareness among parents about how to register their children.<\/p>\n
33. Taking note of target 16.9 of the Sustainable Development Goals , the Committee reiterates its previous concluding recommendations and urges the State party to :<\/p>\n
(a) Harmonize civil registration laws with the Children\u2019s Protection and Welfare Act;<\/p>\n
(b) Address administrative barriers to birth registration, including by continuing its efforts to ensure a free, timely and simplified process and to establish a countrywide system of birth registration in health facilities and a system of e-registration;<\/p>\n
(c) Increase public awareness about the importance and process of birth registration in communities, as well as incentives, including with the support of traditional authorities and religious leaders.<\/p>\n
34.While the Committee notes that the State party has prepared a citizenship bill, which recognizes a child\u2019s right to obtain citizenship from either parent, as well as a national action plan on eradicating statelessness, in 2018, it regrets that the bill remains in draft form and the action plan remains unimplemented.<\/p>\n
35. Recalling its previous concluding observations and taking note of target 16.9 of the Sustainable Development Goals , the Committee recommends that the State party urgently finalize the reform of the legislation on nationality, including the adoption of the citizenship bill, and implement the national action plan on eradicating statelessness, to ensure that a child can derive nationality also from the mother and that children born in the State party are not at risk of being stateless.<\/p>\n