On the morning of Thursday, February 8th, the International Identification Institute (InterID) and the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) held a virtual meeting for an institutional presentation of both entities, highlighting their priority areas of focus. Among the topics discussed were child sub-identification, which leads to numerous crimes against children in Brazil and worldwide, immigrant identification, and the identification of indigenous children.
Célio Ribeiro, CEO of InterID, expressed his satisfaction with the unique opportunity to learn more about UNICEF’s activities and to share InterID’s efforts in addressing challenges such as sub-identification, the abduction of minors from maternity wards, and child trafficking. He emphasized that these issues are partly a result of the country’s still inefficient identification system.
Ribeiro highlighted the crucial role played by UNICEF, describing it as a key initiative to improve the quality of life for Brazilians, especially for children who receive due attention from the UN on matters of collective interest.
UNICEF’s work on immigration issues was also emphasized during the meeting. With the increasing influx of families from neighboring nations and areas experiencing civil conflict, it is common for foreign children to be born or enter national territory without proper documentation. “In this context, UNICEF’s role has been vital in providing support and assistance to these families, as identity is an essential factor for the social inclusion of native-born, naturalized, and foreign Brazilians,” Ribeiro explained.
When asked about the current status of the National Identification Card (CIN) implementation, Célio Ribeiro briefly outlined the progress and success of the project, stressing its importance in child identification. He foresees significant progress in neonatal identification through the use of the electronic Live Birth Certificate (DNV-e), which will enhance security by linking the biometrics of the child and the mother.
Participants from UNICEF included Rosana Veiga, Head of the Child and Adolescent Protection Area Against Violence; Deborah Grajzer, Child Protection Officer; and Ana Carolina, Child Protection Specialist in Emergency Situations. Rosana Veiga recognized the importance of InterID’s initiatives, acknowledging their relevance and contribution to raising awareness of critical issues.
As a result of the meeting, both institutions committed to keeping each other informed about their activities in the field of child identification, with the aim of generating information for the formalization of a Technical Cooperation Agreement and/or studies that could provide UNICEF with valuable and crucial data for decision-making.
