Birth certificates inspire hope and belonging for more than 5,000 individuals in Bangsamoro region and Sulu

UNHCR Philippines/2025/Karen Cepeda
In the hands of 14-year-old Aisha from Omar, Sulu, a birth certificate becomes more than just a document—it’s a key to education, protection, and a brighter future.

Manila — For many remote and vulnerable communities within the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM) and the province of Sulu, a birth certificate is more than just a document. It is a symbol of hope, belonging, and a future that was once out of reach. This holds true for some 5,100 individuals who received their birth certificates through the efforts of UNHCR, the UN Refugee Agency, and its partners.

The first phase of the Japan-funded Initiative for Promoting Digital Birth Registration, an initiative launched in 2024 led by UNHCR in collaboration with UNICEF and project partners, helped vulnerable communities and registered more than 3,500 individuals from priority municipalities and cities which include Marawi City and the municipalities of Masui and Butig in Lanao Del Sur; the municipality of Maluso in Basilan; the municipalities of Talipao, Luuk, and Omar in Sulu; and the municipalities of Languyan and South Ubian in Tawi-Tawi.

“The support from the Government of Japan for the Initiative for Promoting Digital Birth Registration has been a game-changer for our birth registration efforts,” said UNHCR Philippines Head of National Office Maria Ermina Valdeavilla-Gallardo. “Stronger efforts and partnerships made possible through this generous contribution allows our teams to reach the most vulnerable and ensure that no one is left behind.”

This marks a substantial boost in UNHCR’s ongoing efforts to address statelessness which registered around 1,700 individuals in the same year from Zamboanga City, including under the UNHCR-UNICEF Joint Strategy for Addressing Childhood Statelessness the municipalities of Lamitan, Basilan; Indanan, Sulu; and Simunul, Tawi-Tawi.

UNICEF Philippines considers the initiative, which granted birth certificates to around 2,182 children or 63 percent of the total number of new registrants during the initial phase of the project, a big step towards the realization of child rights, especially among vulnerable communities. UNICEF is working closely with local youth networks to increase awareness and promote birth registration in underserved communities, recognizing the important role of young people in every child’s right to a legal identity.

“Every child, no matter where they are born, has the right to a name, a nationality, and a place in society. Birth registration is the first step to receiving life-saving aid and unlocking a lifetime of rights, including access to climate-resilient and shock-responsive social services and budgeting for children. Together with our partners, we are working tirelessly so that every child is counted, cared for, and given the chance to thrive,” said UNICEF Philippines Acting Representative Behzad Noubary.

For decades, countless Sama Bajau and unregistered children in the context of forced displacement due to armed conflict and their families in these areas lacked access to birth documentation. In the case of the Sama Bajau, this can be traced to a combination of factors which include their itinerant lifestyle, generations of non-registration, poverty, limited understanding of the significance of birth registration, and barriers to accessing government services. Similarly, unregistered children in the context of forced displacement often face difficulties in accessing birth registration as local civil registration systems face disruption during armed conflict and displacement.

The absence of birth registration leaves individuals vulnerable to exclusion from critical services such as healthcare, education, and social protection. Beyond serving as legal proof of identity, birth registration is an important document that can aid in inclusion and safeguarding of rights.

This initiative has also extended birth registration efforts to include decommissioned combatants and their families, who often face similar barriers to accessing a functional civil registration system during armed conflict. Additionally, they encounter difficulties navigating government systems and processes as they continue their transition toward full reintegration into their communities. Their inclusion in the initiative aligns with the government’s normalization agenda and in ensuring that no one is left behind.

The initiative is being carried out in collaboration with the Ministry of Social Services and Development, Bangsamoro Youth Commission (BYC), Office of the Presidential Adviser on Peace, Reconciliation, and Unity (OPAPRU), Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) – BARMM, the Consortium of Bangsamoro Civil Society (CBCS), Community and Family Services International (CFSI), and Relief International.

Our partners’ insights on the first phase of the initiative reflect a unified commitment to driving progress and innovation across our birth registration efforts:

“Beyond providing access to legal identity documents, this birth registration initiative brings renewed hope to the Bangsamoro people in underserved communities. It opens doors to education, employment, healthcare, and vital social protection services, critical components in advancing community empowerment and improving access to essential services across the Bangsamoro region,” said MSSD Minister Raissa H. Jajurie.

“Access to birth registration means access to a future. For the Bangsamoro youth—especially those from conflict-affected and marginalized communities—this effort brings hope, dignity, and the opportunity to participate fully in society.” said Chairperson Nasserudin D. Dunding of the BYC.

“Birth registration is a key step towards solidifying our commitment to normalization efforts for decommissioned combatants of the Moro Islamic Liberation Front. It addresses issues of access to employment and socio-economic services and facilitates the exercise of right to vote, among others,” explains Atty. Laisa Alamia, Chairperson of the Government of the Philippines Task Force for Decommissioned Combatants and their Communities.

“In partnership with international organizations, such as UNHCR, we are determined to carry through this program for the greater Bangsamoro people. Our goal is leave no one among the decommissioned combatants behind in providing community and public services,” Alamia adds.

"Every child has the right to a name and place in this world. We at the Consortium of Bangsamoro Civil Society continue to play a vital role in promoting birth registration in the BARMM by collaborating with government agencies, community organizations, youth leaders and with the Muslim Religious Leaders to ensure all children have access to their fundamental right to a legal identity and a place in this world,” emphasized CBCS Chairperson Guiamel M. Alim.

Social mobilization is a key factor for the success of this initiative. When CFSI conducts community visits, assembles, and house-to-house interviews, we witness first-hand the profound impact this initiative has. More importantly, we hear the stories of hope—of parents’ dreams for their children to go to school and become teachers, doctors, or whatever they desire, which can now become a reality,” said Meriam Tedding, Head of Office of CFSI Sub-Office in Zamboanga.

“For the Sama Bajau communities of Tawi-Tawi and Basilan, birth registration is more than a legal formality—it is a pathway to empowerment and inclusion. Relief International is proud to stand with these communities, helping to bridge decades of exclusion and open doors to essential services, education, and livelihood,” said Jerome Balinton, Program Director of Relief International Philippines.

UNHCR and its partners for this initiative remain committed to working alongside local governments, civil society, and at-risk communities to ensure that everyone, especially those considered to be most vulnerable, has a chance to say #IBelong.

ABOUT THE INITIATIVE FOR PROMOTING DIGITAL BIRTH REGISTRATION

The Initiative is being implemented by UNHCR Philippines to improve the birth registration rate in the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM) and Sulu province. Through funding from the Government of Japan, UNHCR Philippines together with its partners Community and Family Services International (CFSI), Relief International (RI), and UNICEF Philippines, and in collaboration with the Ministry of Social Services and Development (MSSD), Philippine Statistics Authority – Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (PSA-BARMM), and the Office of Presidential Adviser on the Peace Process (OPAPRU), works on strengthening the protection space for the Sama Bajaus and unregistered children within the context of forced displacement due to armed conflict. The initiative also covers decommissioned combatants and their families as part of the efforts to complement the normalization efforts of the Philippine Government.

The Initiative is seen to benefit some 30,000 individuals during its 30-month implementation period and is expected to further benefit 800,000 individuals or 80,000 families in the next 10 years.