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

By Sr Katleho Khang, SNJM

In Southern Africa, many poor and marginalised children are exposed to statelessness due to a lack of birth certificates, legal identity and nationality. Many of those who are born in rural and remote areas face the threat of child labour, forced marriages, and human trafficking. They are often also deprived of education, social and health services.

According to a report from the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) in 2022, an estimated 19 million children under the age of 5 are without a birth certificate in Southern Africa. It is against this backdrop that multi-religious leaders, diplomats and civil society organisations from the region met on 13 June 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 good and standard practice in the Region". Archbishop Tlhagale is a member of UNHCR-Religions for Peace Multi-Religious Council of Leaders and a supporter of the UNHCR’s iBelong Campaign, which aims to end statelessness.

Archbishop Tlhagale added that the purpose of the conference was mainly to mobilise religious leaders and organisations, as well as other stakeholders, in the global strategic objective to accelerate efforts towards the eradication of statelessness. The conference was also aimed at integrating the voices of stateless persons in a broader platform where they are central to the dialogue and solutions. 

Archbishop Buti Tlhagale of Johannesburg

The need for a global solution

The Southern African Catholic Bishops’ Conference, through its various diocesan Pastoral Care for Migrants and Refugee Offices, has been reaching out to individuals and communities most affected by lack of documentation and at risk of statelessness. The Bishops’ conference has also been instrumental in influencing the local communities and governments to address not only the challenges of statelessness in Southern Africa, but of human mobility worldwide.