The Ministry of Justice has reported a disappointing response to its mobile birth registration application, with only around two applications being submitted each month. During discussions on the ministry’s annual reports from 2019 to 2022, Collin Yabaki, the Director of Corporate Services, shared these insights with the Standing Committee on Justice, Law, and Human Rights.
Yabaki acknowledged that while the digital platform has made birth registration more efficient for parents living in urban and semi-urban regions, significant obstacles remain for those in rural and maritime areas. Factors such as poor internet connectivity and geographical challenges hinder access to this digital service. To tackle these issues, Yabaki stated that the ministry has focused on outreach efforts directed at remote communities to ensure that all citizens have the opportunity to register births.
Despite the launch of this digital solution intended to ease the registration process, its adoption in remote areas has been slow due to a lack of awareness among many citizens. Yabaki emphasized that one of the benefits of using the app is that birth registration is free, with the first birth certificate issued at no charge, thereby encouraging parents to utilize this convenient option.
To further promote the application, the ministry is considering traveling to isolated communities to provide hands-on demonstrations of how to use the service.
As the Ministry of Justice actively seeks to address these challenges, there remains a positive outlook that increased awareness and outreach can enhance birth registration rates throughout the country. The commitment to ensuring that no one is left behind is an encouraging step toward achieving broader access to essential services.
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