New technology could help 230 million 'ghost' children

By Sophie Morlin-Yron, CNN

Updated 1039 GMT (1839 HKT) December 7, 2017

Globally, an estimated <a href="https://www.unicef.org/protection/57929_58010.html" target="_blank">230 million children</a> under five are not registered. Plan International has run global<a href="https://plan-international.org/birth-registration" target="_blank"> birth registration campaigns</a> to help register about 40 million children since 2005, according to the organization.
Photos: Global birth registration in numbers
Globally, an estimated 230 million children under five are not registered. Plan International has run global birth registration campaigns to help register about 40 million children since 2005, according to the organization.
Hide Caption
1 of 7
The births of more than one in four children worldwide under the age of five <a href="https://sustainabledevelopment.un.org/sdg16" target="_blank">have not been recorded</a>, and tackling the issue is part of the United Nation's Sustainable Development Goals.
Photos: Global birth registration in numbers
The births of more than one in four children worldwide under the age of five have not been recorded, and tackling the issue is part of the United Nation's Sustainable Development Goals.
Hide Caption
2 of 7
In sub-Saharan Africa, approximately <a href="https://sustainabledevelopment.un.org/sdg16" target="_blank">54% of children</a> remain unregistered by their fifth birthday.
Photos: Global birth registration in numbers
In sub-Saharan Africa, approximately 54% of children remain unregistered by their fifth birthday.
Hide Caption
3 of 7
Globally, birth registration rates tend to be highest among the <a href="https://sustainabledevelopment.un.org/sdg16" target="_blank">most affluent 20 percent</a>.
Photos: Global birth registration in numbers
Globally, birth registration rates tend to be highest among the most affluent 20 percent.
Hide Caption
4 of 7
Children born in urban areas are 1.5 times more likely to be registered than those living in rural areas.
Photos: Global birth registration in numbers
Children born in urban areas are 1.5 times more likely to be registered than those living in rural areas.
Hide Caption
5 of 7
In some rural villages, birth registration is almost non-existent, according to Plan International.
Photos: Global birth registration in numbers
In some rural villages, birth registration is almost non-existent, according to Plan International.
Hide Caption
6 of 7
An unregistered birth may result in the child being unable to obtain a birth certificate, which can cause a <a href="http://data.unicef.org/topic/child-protection/birth-registration/" target="_blank">number of issues</a> throughout their lives, such as entering education or receiving healthcare, according to UNICEF. It can also leave children <a href="https://www.unicef.org/esaro/Technical_paper_low_res_.pdf" target="_blank">vulnerable to trafficking </a>and prevent them from obtaining a passport.
Photos: Global birth registration in numbers
An unregistered birth may result in the child being unable to obtain a birth certificate, which can cause a number of issues throughout their lives, such as entering education or receiving healthcare, according to UNICEF. It can also leave children vulnerable to trafficking and prevent them from obtaining a passport.
Hide Caption
7 of 7
birth certificate 1birth cert 3Birth Certificate TwinsBirth certificate ResmaBirth certificate RimuBirth certificate Bangladeshbirth certificates2

Story highlights

  • Digital system registers babies remotely using a bracelet and an app
  • Approximately 50% of births in Africa are not registered
  • Children without a legal identity may be vulnerable to trafficking

(CNN)A new tech start up has set themselves a massive task: to register all newborn babies digitally.

iCivil Africa, a company based in Burkina Faso, has developed a birth certificate system which involves a smartphone, a bracelet and encoded text messages.
    The company hopes the new system will make birth certificates in sub-Saharan Africa more more accessible -- an area where more than half of newborns currently go unregistered.
      Globally, an estimated 230 million children under the age of five are not registered.
      Co-founder Adama Sawadogo says he wants to help Africa's "ghost children" who lack a legal identity due to not being registered and may be extra vulnerable. "It's a major humanitarian problem. These ghost children are easy prey for traffickers."
      Can a bracelet help fight child trafficking?
      Can a bracelet help fight child trafficking?