While ensuring quality care for children deprived of their families is important (article 20 Convention on the Rights of the Child (CRC)), the preservation and access of the child’s identity – including name, nationality and family relations (Article 8 CRC) – is equally necessary when finding suitable care. When these dual goals are not achieved, the lifelong impact for the child and the wider society, causes significant damage. It is therefore imperative that those working in child protection, alternative care and adoption, give greater attention to the child’s right to identity, noting that it is the gateway to accessing all other rights. Child Identity Protection hopes that by focusing on the three DGD specific objectives, that link the provision of quality alternative care to safeguarding the child’s right to identity, this submission will contribute to: the achievement of SDG 16.9 where by 2030 States provide legal identity for all; and ensuring that every child and later adult, that has been in care, has full access to their origins.

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