The rights of invisible children: challenges and consequences of nonregistration of births in Tanzania

Abstract

This paper highlights the importance of birth registration in Tanzania, linking it to legal identity, access to essential rights, and protection from exploitation. Despite the various international frameworks and instruments, low registration still persists due to socio-cultural and national legal challenges. This study attempts to explore local attitudes, the importance of extra-legal actors and technological interventions through a fieldwork in Tanzania, during an internship at the Embassy of Italy. It underscores the need for holistic approaches, integrating local customs, government collaboration, and innovative solutions to ensure access to birth registration and strengthen children’s rights and societal inclusion.