CRC\/C\/RWA\/CO\/3-4<\/p>\n
Concluding observations on the third and fourth periodic reports of Rwanda, adopted by the Committee at its sixty-third session (27 May\u201314 June 2013)<\/p>\n
The Committee states:<\/p>\n
Birth registration<\/p>\n
25. While\u00a0 the\u00a0 Committee\u00a0 notes\u00a0 that\u00a0 Law\u00a0 N\u00ba\u00a0 54\/2011\u00a0 of\u00a0 14\u00a0 December\u00a0 2011\u00a0 relating\u00a0 to the\u00a0 Rights\u00a0 and\u00a0 Protection\u00a0 of\u00a0 the\u00a0 Child\u00a0 provides\u00a0 for\u00a0 the\u00a0 right\u00a0 to\u00a0 name\u00a0 and\u00a0 nationality,\u00a0 it\u00a0 is concerned\u00a0 that\u00a0 only\u00a0 63\u00a0 per\u00a0 cent\u00a0 of\u00a0 the\u00a0 children\u00a0 were\u00a0 registered\u00a0 with\u00a0 civil\u00a0 authorities\u00a0 and less\u00a0 than\u00a0 7\u00a0 per\u00a0 cent\u00a0 had\u00a0 birth\u00a0 certificates\u00a0 in\u00a0 2010\u00a0 according\u00a0 to\u00a0 the\u00a0 latest\u00a0 Rwanda Demographic and Health Survey. The Committee further notes with concern that:<\/p>\n
(a) Despite\u00a0 efforts\u00a0 to\u00a0 improve\u00a0 birth\u00a0 registration\u00a0 through\u00a0 legislative\u00a0 reforms\u00a0 and birth registration campaigns, children born to refugee parents and children of\u00a0 migrants are still not registered in the\u00a0 State party, partly due to inconsistent implementation of the\u00a0 Law N\u00b014\/2008 of 04\/6\/2008 Governing the\u00a0 Registration of the Population and Issuance of the National Identity Card;<\/p>\n
(b) Birth\u00a0 registration\u00a0 procedures\u00a0 are\u00a0 complicated\u00a0 in\u00a0 the\u00a0 State\u00a0 party\u00a0 and\u00a0 do\u00a0 not facilitate the ready issuance of birth certificates; and<\/p>\n
(c) Law\u00a0 N\u00b0\u00a0 14\/2008\u00a0 imposes\u00a0 penalties,\u00a0 including\u00a0 prison\u00a0 sentence\u00a0 on\u00a0 families who\u00a0 fail\u00a0 to\u00a0 register\u00a0 their\u00a0 children\u00a0 within\u00a0 the\u00a0 first\u00a0 45\u00a0 days,\u00a0 which\u00a0 could\u00a0 deter\u00a0 parents\u00a0 or guardians\u00a0 from\u00a0 registering\u00a0 their\u00a0 children\u00a0 and\u00a0 result\u00a0 in\u00a0 the\u00a0 separation\u00a0 of\u00a0 the\u00a0 parents\u00a0 from their children, which is not in the best interests of the child.<\/p>\n
26. The\u00a0 Committee\u00a0 recommends\u00a0 that\u00a0 the\u00a0 State\u00a0 party\u00a0 strengthen\u00a0 its\u00a0 efforts\u00a0 to ensure\u00a0\u00a0 free\u00a0\u00a0 and\u00a0\u00a0 immediate\u00a0\u00a0 birth\u00a0\u00a0 registration,\u00a0\u00a0 including\u00a0\u00a0 the\u00a0\u00a0 issuance\u00a0\u00a0 of\u00a0\u00a0 birth certificates\u00a0 for\u00a0 all\u00a0 children,\u00a0 by\u00a0 means\u00a0 of\u00a0 accessible\u00a0 and\u00a0 expeditious\u00a0 registration procedures. The Committee further recommends that the State party:<\/p>\n
(a) Increase\u00a0 availability\u00a0 and\u00a0\u00a0 access\u00a0 to\u00a0 registry\u00a0 services and\u00a0 strengthen sensitization\u00a0 and\u00a0 training\u00a0 for\u00a0 registration\u00a0 officers\u00a0 on\u00a0 relevant\u00a0 laws\u00a0 to\u00a0 ensure\u00a0 the registration of all children, including refugee children immediately after birth;<\/p>\n
(b) Intensify\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 community\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 sensitization\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 and\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 public\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 awareness\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 on\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 the importance\u00a0 of\u00a0 birth\u00a0 registration,\u00a0 including\u00a0 among\u00a0 refugee\u00a0 populations\u00a0 and\u00a0 in\u00a0 urban areas;<\/p>\n
(c) Amend\u00a0 Law\u00a0 N\u00b0\u00a0 14\/2008\u00a0 in\u00a0 order\u00a0 to\u00a0 remove\u00a0 penalties\u00a0 of\u00a0 imprisonment and all legal and procedural barriers that impede birth registration; and<\/p>\n
(d) Seek technical assistance from UNICEF and UNHCR among others, for the implementation of these recommendations.<\/p>\n