Birth registration: civil rights and league tables

A birth certificate is a child's proof of identity and represents the first acknowledgement of his or her significance to the country. Proof of birth is needed for a number of services, and it offers a degree of legal protection. But too few developing nations take birth registration seriously, and rates vary widely within and between countries. Some nations do not even know what percentage of their citizens are registered. All developing countries need to assess their status, set targets for improvement and make sure they fulfil them.