Archbishop of Johannesburg: Every child has a right to know who they are

By Sr. Katleho Khang, SNJM

In southern Africa, many poor and marginalized children are at risk of statelessness due to lack of birth certificate, legal identity and nationality. Many of those born in rural and isolated areas face the threat of child labor, forced marriage and human trafficking. They are also often deprived of educational, social and health services.

According to a 2022 report from the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), an estimated 19 million children under the age of 5 are without birth certificates in southern Africa. It is in this context that multi-religious leaders, diplomats and civil society organizations from the region gathered on June 13 in Johannesburg, South Africa.

Campaigning to end statelessness

Archbishop Buti Tlhagale, OMI, of Johannesburg, was present at the conference. Speaking to Vatican News, he highlighted “the urgent task of encouraging our governments to adopt the practice of issuing birth certificates immediately after birth registration, a common good practice in the Region.” Archbishop Tlhagale is a member of UNHCR's Multi-Religious Leadership Council-Religions for Peace and a supporter of UNHCR's iBelong campaign, which aims to end statelessness.

Archbishop Tlhagale added that the objective of the conference was primarily to mobilize religious leaders and organizations, as well as other stakeholders, around the global strategic objective of accelerating efforts towards the eradication of statelessness. . The conference also aimed to integrate the voices of stateless people into a broader platform where they take center stage in dialogue and solutions.

Mgr Buti Tlhagale, Archbishop of Johannesburg

The need for a global solution

The Southern African Conference of Catholic Bishops, through its various diocesan pastoral offices for migrants and refugees, addresses individuals and communities most affected by lack of documentation and at risk of statelessness. The Bishops' Conference has also been instrumental in inspiring local communities and governments to address not only the challenges of statelessness in Southern Africa, but also human mobility around the world.