Issuance of certificate of recognition of pregnancy: Lucrèce Nahum lifts a corner of the veil on the process

The subject is causing a stir everywhere in Benin, in the bars, in homes and even in churches and mosques. The issuance of pregnancy recognition certificate is the social news that has unleashed passions and made headlines in recent weeks. For Lucrèce Nahum, Director of services to the population of the City of Cotonou, the reforms as required by the texts require awareness.

The Children's Code, in particular Law No. 2015-08 of 08 December 2015 on the Children's Code in the Republic of Benin stipulates in its article 148 the child's name. This article describes what no mother can attribute to a newborn child, the name of a presumed father only on presentation of a marriage certificate or a declaration of recognition of the pregnancy established by the registrar. otherwise, the emphasis has been placed on midwives, at the level of obstetricians, that they cannot enter on the birth record, the name of any alleged father if the woman does not bring at the time of childbirth, proof of marriage or recognition of pregnancy. A law that dates back to 2015 but which has been in the headlines for a few moments in Benin. For Lucrèce Nahum, the dematerialization process where the National Agency for the Identification of Persons (Anip) can issue birth certificates up to the biometric card to any Beninese citizen requires that the application of this law now enter into force. According to his words, this device will really solve a number of problems. "It's a whole organization that is being made by Anip and the municipalities", she hinted, in an interview with DBNEWS. She hinted that it's not a role overlap, but that everyone contributes their contribution so that the dematerialization process at the level of our municipalities is a success. That is why, she observed that, the reforms as required by the texts require awareness, a clarification of the role of each actor. otherwise, she urges the girls to ensure that the unborn child can have a father to regulate any difficulties. "It is not when he is born that we will start looking for his father or it is not when the child will have a certain age of reason or the child has completely grown up that they will be told that such is not. is not your father, such did not recognize your pregnancy ", she laments. for her, this practice contributes to the psychological imbalance of the child. "This is the advice I would like to give to young girls and those of childbearing age", concluded Lucretia Nahum.

Patrice ADJAHO