WUNRN
BIRTH REGISTRATION VITALLY IMPORTANT
- HOW DISCRIMINATION
PREVENTS WOMEN FROM REGISTERING THE
BIRTH OF THEIR CHILD
Direct Link to Full 16-Page
Document:
*Both survey responses and country
reports indicated that, even in those countries where the law gives women an
equal right to birth register their children, discriminatory attitudes and
cultural practices affect their ability or inclination to do so. Patriarchal
attitudes affect the status of women, their autonomy, economic independence,
levels of education (and therefore ability to deal with bureaucracy and, in
many cases, their ability to act without the consent of their husband, parents,
or in-laws.
*Women who are unmarried when they
give birth face particular obstacles. Shame and stigma were cited as reasons
why an unmarried mother may not register her baby in multiple countries.
*In countries as India, Laos, and
Nepal, and some areas of Pakistan, it is specified that if a birth takes place
at home, the head of the household has the primary responsibility to register
the child. In most cases this will be the husband or, for single women, their
father or another male relative. Rarely will a woman be head of household herself.....
