Registration of birth is the State's first acknowledgement of a child's existence. It represents recognition of a child's significance to the country and of his or her status under the law. This ticket to citizenship opens the door to the fulfilment of rights and to the privileges and services that a nation offers its people. Without proof of birth, a child cannot be legally vaccinated in at least 20 countries. More than 30 countries require birth registration before a child can be treated in a health centre.
Most countries demand to see a birth certificate before enrolling a child in school.
Many require one for supplemental feeding programmes. Such fundamental activities as getting married, opening a bank account, owning land, voting and obtaining a passport may be denied to a person without a birth certificate, because it is the basis on which a country identifies its citizens. In addition to conferring privilege, proof of birth can also protect. With it, a boy can verify that he is ineligible for military service, a girl that she is too young to go to work. Registration can offer a degree of protection from sex traffickers.