Up to 3.1 Million Adult Haitians Without a Valid ID Card

The World Bank has published a report saying that up to 3.1 million Haitian adults have no valid national identification card. According to the study Diagnostic de l'écosystème de l'identification en Haïti, these people make up nearly a third of the country's adults.

The report notes that 67% of adults have received a Carte d'Identification Nationale Unique (CINU). The World Bank still finds the situation unsatisfactory, however, and regards the lack of valid identity documents as a major administrative and socio-economic obstacle. Rural populations, the poorest people and those displaced by insecurity are particularly affected.

Civil registration data show that 85% of children under five have had their birth declared. Only 77%, however, hold an official birth certificate.

Alexandre Amard, a digital specialist and co-author of the report, explains that people without identity documents have trouble accessing education, receiving social benefits or getting formal employment. Anne Lucie Lefebvre, the World Bank Group's head for Haiti, believes that investing in the national identification system could promote more inclusive and lasting access to work.

Among its recommendations, the report calls for decentralizing identification services and holding large-scale registration campaigns. It also stresses the importance of securing public funding and passing legislation on the protection of personal data.

Consequences for Vulnerable Populations

People without an ID card face a variety of administrative obstacles, such as informal fees, costly travel and repeated procedures. These difficulties hinder their participation in civic and political life.

Upcoming Elections

The lack of identification documents takes on particular significance as the next elections approach, since ID is crucial for taking part in democratic life. The report does not, however, give a figure for the exact number of voters affected.