National I.D. boosts bid to meet sustainable development goals

INSTITUTIONALIZING identification systems will help countries like the Philippines meet the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), according to an expert from the World Bank.

 

In a World Bank Blog, Samia Melhem, the global lead for the Digital Development Community of Practice at the World Bank, said Peru is one of the countries that have had a long experience with identification, long before the SDGs. One of the indicators under SDG Goal 16, which aims to promote peaceful and inclusive societies, is that by 2030, countries should provide legal identity for all, including birth registration.

 

“Peru has continued to prioritize identification, and the uniqueness of each person—long before the Sustainable Development Goals made ‘legal identity for all and free birth registrations’ a global priority,” Melhem said.

 

“Assuring the unique identification of citizens and residents was an important symbol of reintegration and reconciliation, especially for those with no identity documents. As a result of this commitment, Peru has accomplished near universal ID coverage today,” she added.

 

Peru’s quest to provide universal identification has led the government to scale the Amazon river on army boats, providing civil registry services to remote communities. By so doing, the government of Peru was able to give focus to the country’s cultural diversity, preserve indigenous languages and promote cultural diversity.

 

READ MORE: https://businessmirror.com.ph/national-i-d-boosts-bid-to-meet-sustainable-development-goals-expert/