Mechanisms that Guarantee the Early Registration of Newborns in the Family Status Registry as a Means of Protecting Their Right to Identity in the City of Santa Ana

Abstract

The birth of a person entails a series of obligations, the first of which is registration in the Family Status Registry corresponding to the place of birth or the place where the parents reside. This constitutes a right of every individual because it grants the newborn legal personality. If a newborn is not registered, he or she is effectively considered as not being a subject of rights. This situation prevents the child from accessing all other fundamental human rights.

The research conducted in the department of Santa Ana was based on available documentary information and interviews with stakeholders involved in the subject, with the purpose of analyzing the effectiveness of the mechanisms that guarantee the early registration of newborns in the Family Status Registry. This issue is of great importance because the right to identity and identification is fundamental for every person.

In this regard, the State is the primary entity responsible for ensuring that newborns are identified in a timely manner through the implementation of simple and efficient procedures. It must establish and strengthen links among governmental and non-governmental institutions involved in the process, as well as create suitable mechanisms to achieve this objective. The study found that current administrative processes implemented by some public health institutions are not sufficiently effective in fulfilling this purpose. Therefore, it is necessary to create new mechanisms or improve existing ones, in addition to establishing a comprehensive and appropriate procedure for the early registration of newborns.