For the internally displaced in Mozambique, finding identity is a step towards recovery
The International Organization for Migration (IOM) releases an article of testimonies of Celestino Bissau a father of five children in Mozambique whom like thousands have lost all civil identity documentation as a result of armed conflict. There are currently 1 million individuals from the northern region of Mozambique who have been displaced due to disasters and attacks from armed groups. As a consequence identity documents lost while fleeing, destroyed, or never owned- four out of five people do not have civil documents. Celestino shares “It restricted my freedom of movement to the point that I often had anxiety about the possibility of being stopped by authorities and not being able to provide evidence of my identity. I constantly put my own safety at risk by going out in order to protect my family from any problems that may arise.”
IOM along with support from other agencies have helped develop a strategy with the UN Legal Identity Agenda which is assisting the Mozambique government by providing civil documentation to individuals who are internally displaced. As a result, they can acquire national documentation and birth registration. Celestino says “It is essential to have a document so that you can continue working and avoid missing out on any possibilities. Tomorrow, I will bring all of my children to the registration office in order for them to be able to enrol in the neighbourhood school for the next semester.”
Child Identity Protection (CHIP) celebrates the work done by IOM and other agencies to support internally displaced individualsincluding the restoration of nationality and birth registration.
