One in Three Children do not Officially Exist According to UN Report (Video)

A report from UNICEF suggests that one in three children under the age of five around the world don't officially exist.

"Birth registration is more than just a right. It's how societies first recognize and acknowledge a child's identity and existence," said Geeta Rao Gupta, UNICEF Deputy Executive Director, according to a press release. "Birth registration is also key to guaranteeing that children are nto forgotten, denied their rights or hidden from the progress of their nations."

According to the report titled "Every Child's Birth Right: Inequities and trends in birth registration," a statistical analysis spanning 161 countries presents the latest data vailable and birth estimates on registration.

In 2012 across the planet, the organization notes that approximately 60 percent of all babies born were registered at birth. However, these rates vary significantly across regions with the lowest levels of birth registration in parts of South Asia and sub-Saharan Africa.

The organization notes the following regarding the lowest birth registration levels, courtesy of the release: Somalia (3 percent), Liberia (4 percent), Ethiopia (7 percent), Zambia (14 percent), Chad (16 percent), United Republic of Tanzania (16 percent), Yemen (17 percent), Guinea-Bissau (24 percent), Pakistan (27 percent) and Democratic Republic of the Congo (28 percent).

And unfortunately, for many that are registered, some may not have proof of that registration. It's estimated that as many as 1 in 7 registered children do not possess a birth certificate due to prohibitive fees or birth registration may not be available for families in the area.

Children who are unregistered may lack the proper access to education, health care and social security.

"Birth registration-and a birth certificate-is a vital for unblocking a child's full potential," said Rao Gupta, via the release. "All children are born with enormous potential. But if societies fail to count them, and don't even recognize that they are there, they are more vulnerable to neglect and abuse. Inevitably, their potentially will be severely diminished."

Therefore, the organization stresses the importance for addressing innovative approaches to support government and community funding and systems to ensure that all are provided with adequate registration.

Want to see more about the importance of registration? Check out this video, courtesy of UNICEF.