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They invited the press to the launch of their new birth registration campaign, and 7News attended. Here's what the main speakers had to say about the problems that are caused both here and abroad when parents fail to register their children:

Kerrie Williams - Sr. Protection Assistant, UNHCR
"Today, over 10 million people around the world are denied a nationality, thus them nameless, faceless, stateless, and ultimately not counted. Globally, every 10 minutes, a child is born stateless. As a result, they often aren't allowed to go to school see a doctor, get a job, open a bank account, buy a house, or even get married. Stateless persons often have difficulty accessing basic rights, such as education, healthcare, employment, and freedom of movement."

"The most effective way to prevent statelessness is the prevent it from occurring in the first place. The act of registering the birth of a child is an essential, first step toward ensuring that a child is given an identity, and is counted."

"For a fledgling developing country, we must laud the fact that 96% of all persons born in Belize are registered. However, those who fall within the approximate 4% of the unregistered remain without an identity, and invisible, and must be included through steps such as birth registration."

Michel Guinand - Rep., UNICEF
"In Belize, to reach 100% birth registration, some challenges to overcome include that not all registered possess a birth certificate. Overall, only 86% out of the 96% whose birth has been registered, indeed possess a birth certificate. There are also important disparities in birth registration between districts. According to Vital Statistics data, 2018, less than 15% of Toledo District live births had been registered. Also, children in the poorest households are also less likely to have their birth registered, than other children. Efforts have been put in place to address this gap."

"It's precisely the major goal of the partnership that we are launching today in the campaign, to reach the most remote and under-served communities."

Miriam Villanueva - Deputy Chief of Mission, Mexican Embassy
"The modernization of the national birth registration system in Belize is the first step to work to ensure that every Belizean acquires their most fundamental human rights, and the Embassy of Mexico is very glad to be part of it. Mexico has given its full support to this initiative."

Khandi Cadle - First Class Clerk, Vital Statistics Unit
"Belize Vital Statistics Unit is committed to holistically strategize to effectively ensure 100% registration. As a part of the communication strategy, as a part of the Belize Vital Statistics team, will be visiting villages throughout the country over the next few weeks. We encourage you to come out to these locations that will be mentioned later."

The campaign was scheduled to be rolled out since February 2020, but, as viewers are aware, the COVID-19 pandemic hit the world, and life as we all knew it changed. So, the organizers of this new birth registration campaign have decided to incorporate a bit of COVID-19 relief to families who come forward and participate in a mobile registration program. Instead of having to travel from their communities, and incurring expenses that they may not be able to afford, families of unregistered babies will get an opportunity to do so when the Vital Statistics Unit visits their communities in a few days from now. Consultant Dr. Dionne Chamberlaine explained it today at the campaign launch:

Dr. Dionne Chamberlain Miranda - Managing Director, Chamberlain Consulting
"We did what we called a CAPS methodology study because, when we were first given the job to do, we were told that people did not understand that registering your children was important. However, that was not reality."

"We were told initially, come up with a communication strategy for people who don't want to register their children and are just giving trouble. In reality, and verifying with the target market, who are individual and group immigrants and indigenous persons in rural Toledo, Cayo, and Corozal who make up the most of this 4%, they were very aware of the importance."

"Their practice, however, was an issue, and it came right back to where Mr. Guinand mentioned, the cost to do business, the way they feel within our public office, when they go and serve, the distance to travel, and again, acquiring all of this paperwork and declarations and everything that they need to, which poses the major issue."

"Over the next 3 weeks, we will be going into three key areas within the west, the north, and the south, where these persons are. And instead of spending the money on airing time - and I apologize to your stations and your magazines for that right now - we will be spending the money on preparing and distributing 800 food boxes."

"These boxes will go out in a campaign that starts on Friday. We will be at the Independence High School auditorium on Friday, August 7th. We will be in Santa Cruz and Bella Vista, directly following at 12 and 2 p.m., and the Vital Statistics Office will be physically doing registrations."

"And, for the purpose of this event, we have gotten a donor in the name of the Belize Bank, who will be paying that $4 for those people who come to register, and paying for those dollar and 50-cent stamps that must attach each declaration."

"We will gather as much data, collect as much information, and only people who have given birth, and are registering a child will get one of these boxes that we've mentioned."

"On Saturday, the 8th, we'll be at the Punta Gorda Market, near the Teacher's Credit Union. Then we move on to Aguacate, Santa Teresa, and San Lucas, where our target populations are."

On Wednesday, August 12th, the Vital Statistics Unit's Mobile registration team will travel to the Ranchito Community Center, Xaibe, San Narcisco, August Pine Ridge, and Guinea Grass.

Then, on Saturday, August 15th, the team will visit the San Ignacio Welcome Center, Arenal, Bullet Tree, and Valley of Peace. According to the speakers from today, these are among the communities that regularly fail to register newborn babies.