Govt urged to bridge birth registration gap.

The increase number of cases of unregistered births of girls and members of marginalised segments of society has experts alarmed, with speakers at a conference about rural women urging the government to use technology to devise effective mechanisms for ensure timely and accurate birth registrations.

The conference on Sunday was organised by the Potohar Organization for Development Advocacy (PODA) on the occasion of the internationally observed rural women's day on October 15.

It honours The UN General Assembly resolution for member states recognise the significance of the role played by rural women by acknowledging their contributions in enhancing agricultural and rural development, improving food security and ending poverty.

The theme of the ongoing conference this year was 'Stop Child Marriages for Sustainable Development, Climate and Democracy'. Sameena Nazir, PODA's country director, said the lack of official identity (ID) deprives girls of their fundamental human rights including the right to legal identity, citizenship, education, marriage, reproductive health, inheritance, government assistance, services and lead a dignified life.

'These are the rights enshrined in the Constitution of Pakistan.' She pointed out that birth registration help decreasing the risks of child marriage, child labour and children being treated as adults in the criminal justice system.

'This very basic human right will provide a strong foundation for achieving gender equality and empowering women and girls,' she said. 'Gender equality is goal five of...