Press Release

3 June 2008

Children in Wales welcomes the UK Government White Paper which outlines proposals to make it a legal requirement for both parents to register a child’s birth jointly unless it can be shown that this might harm the child in some way.

In England and Wales around 7% of births are currently solely registered by the mother, this affects around 45,000 children every year. The United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child enshrines the right of children to know both their parents. For these 45,000 children every year this right is currently being denied.

The current registration system works well for married couples, but for unmarried or co-habiting couples, the system is more complicated. Either both parents must attend the registration process together, or the father must sign a statutory declaration which must be witnessed by a solicitor.

Tony Ivens, Fatherhood Development Officer at Children in Wales said: "We welcome these proposals.  They should make the process for unmarried couples both simpler and fairer. There should be a number of benefits.  Fathers who wish to acknowledge their paternity, but are currently prevented from doing so by the mother’s choice, will be recognised. Mothers will be given a new right to insist that a man who is proven to be the father of their child acknowledges his responsibilities."

Notes:

1. The White Paper -  Joint birth registration: recording responsibility can be downloaded from the Department of Work and Pensions website: www.dwp.gov.uk/jointbirthregistration/

2. Children in Wales was established in March 1992 and became a registered charity in 1993.  It aims to promote the interests of children, to improve services in Wales and to put children high on the Welsh agenda.  We work closely with our members who comprise professionals, policy makers and consumer groups to improve the lives of all children living in Wales, but especially young children, those affected by family instability, children with special needs or disabilities and those suffering the effects of poverty and deprivation.  We collect and disseminate information about children and promote good practice in children's services through research, policy and practice development, publications, conferences, seminars, training and access to an extensive library and information service.  Children in Wales has offices in Cardiff and Caernarfon.

For more information contact:

Tony Ivens, Fatherhood Development Officer, Children in Wales, Tel: 029 2034 2434,  E-mail: tony.ivens@childreninwales.org.uk