Cazenga, ANGOLA, June 17 - At least 3.8 million Angolan children from zero to five years lack any record of their birth, posing a serious challenge to the Government.,

 

The statistics was released Saturday by the minister of Justice and Human Rights, Francisco Queirós.

 

Francisco Queirós voiced the concern during an official opening ceremony of birth registration in the country’s schools, held in Cazenga municipality, Luanda.

 

The event ran under the protocol between the Ministry of Justice and Human Rights, and Ministry of Education, ahead of the Day of African Child, on 16 June.

 

The official said that the initiative will strengthen the Government commitment to the essential rights of the children, aimed at recognising their rights and value.

 

Francisco Queirós underlined that recently a campaign to issue Identity Cards in the country was launched and today's ceremony is a condition to obtain the document.

 

In turn, the head of the Cooperation Section of the European Union Delegation in Angola, Ramón Reigada, said that the Angolan State has already ratified most of the international legal instruments related to human rights, including the Convention on the Rights of the Child in defence of values and universal principles.

 

The campaign which officially opened Saturday and going until July this year aims to reduce the number of children without birth registration in schools.

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