By Amin Kef Sesay
Thursday, the 16th September, is International Identity Day which is observed by more than 100 organizations, including Government and humanitarian agencies, campaigners, standard organizations and NGOs. The Coalition came together two years ago to inspire an official declaration from the United Nations in honor of the UN’s Sustainable Development Goal 16.9 to provide legal identity for all, including free birth registration.
Sierra Leone will join other countries around Africa and the world to commemorate the International Identity Day.
This year’s commemoration comes at a time when the Director General at the National Civil Registration Authority (NCRA), Mohamed Mubashir Massaquoi, has been re-appointed Ambassador for ID4Africa for Sierra Leone pursuant to the ID4Africa Movement Policy, Code of Conduct and Ethics.
Many important issues on the international development and human rights agenda have an observance day. For example, 10 December is Human Rights Day, while 20th of June is Refugee Day. It is time for identity to have a day of observance. International days of observance are an effective and practical way to raise awareness and generate momentum around a particular subject matter. In the case of ID Day, it raises awareness on the need for Identity for All.
According to the UN, the observance of such a Day contributes to the achievement of the purposes of the UN Charter and promotes awareness of and action on important political, social, cultural, humanitarian or human rights issues. They provide a useful means for the promotion of international and national action and stimulate interest in United Nations activities and programmes.”
The purpose of this day is to raise awareness about the important role identity plays in empowering individuals to exercise their rights and responsibilities fairly and equitably in a modern society. Countries and Organizations that choose to observe this day, would be encouraged to organize events and activities that stimulate public awareness and sensitize legislators and public servants about the responsible adoption of official identity and the necessary protection around it to ensure that it is a tool for public good.
SDG 16.9 made ‘Legal Identity for All’ an important development goal which was embraced by all 193-member States at the United Nations.
This campaign is the logical extension of that work. The campaign was initiated by ID4Africa at the 4th Annual Meeting of the ID4Africa Movement on 24 April 2018, in Abuja, Nigeria. The launch was met with strong support whereby over 1500 individual signatures endorsing the proposition were collected. This represented nearly 99% of the delegates in attendance.
In early August of 2018, the campaign moved from individual to institutional engagement in preparation for policy advocacy by these Institutions that will sensitize UN member delegations and their Governments about the importance of Legal Identity.
Director General of the National Civil Registration Authority (NCRA) Mohamed Mubashir Massaquoi who doubles as the Ambassador for ID4Africa Movement in Sierra Leone, Member, Advisory Committee – Secure Identity Alliance (SIA) and currently the Regional Vice Chairman for Bureau of Civil Registration, Vital Statistics and Identity Management -Africa said he is excited about the day on the note that it is an opportunity for us as a country and as a Government to continue to demonstrate to the African Continent and the world at large our resolve and commitment to guarantee the right of all residents in Sierra Leone the right to Legal Identity through a well-functioning Civil Registration, Vital Statistics and Identity Management System.
He added that “with support from Government and its Development Partners, Sierra Leoneans and other residents are assured of a secure and trusted identity service”.
While thanking other Ministries, Departments, Agencies, Civil Society Organizations, and Development Partners, Ambassador Massaquoi urged all stakeholders, “to advocate for the declaration of September 16 to be officially recognized and observed as “National Identify Day” like other important Days that are recognized as such since Identity touches everyone including the poor, rich, old, young, sick, stateless, Refugee etc. he maintained”.
