The former city of Tshela is one of these towns in the DRC. who have a major problem with quality or reliable statistical data from the registration of newborns at the Civil Registry.
To this day, there are still parents who do not register their children with the Civil Registry at birth and many questions remain unanswered. According to law n°9/001 of January 10, 2009 on child protection, article 14 states: «every child has the right to an identity from birth». Without prejudice to the provision of articles 56 to 70 of the family code, identity consists of name, location, date of birth, sex, parents’ names and nationality.
Article 7 of the International Convention on the Rights of the Child specifies that all children have the right to registration from birth, without discrimination.
The Congolese State allows parents to register their children free of charge with the Civil Registry within three months following birth.
This research aims to popularize this law so that every parent knows that it is an obligation and a duty to register the birth of their child as soon as born.
Thus the child will have: to know his parents and to have the privilege of being raised by them, a name and a nationality, to have the right to inheritance and the possibility of identifying the place of his birth. This registration allows the Civil Registry to have reliable statistical data on the birth rate.
He will have the possibility of obtaining a passport or a driving license, see the voter card.
Considering the advantages of this simple beneficial gesture for the child, every parent should subscribe to it or get involved in it. On the other hand, the observation is very regrettable, because many parents are still unaware of this act, and these children’s rights are encroached upon and sacrificed.
After the deadline set by law, a supplementary judgment on the birth certificate is necessary, payment of legal costs to the children’s court and a fine for late declaration so that the child can be rehabilitated in his rights.
Taking this analysis into account, we can say that the registration of newborns in the Civil Status is a right for the child and a duty or obligation for the parents because this gesture is of capital importance for a country or nation.