are not implemented to implement them, and those whose laws are deficient or outdated to align them to the required standards through law reform, drawing inspiration from the present General Comment and best practices from other States parties. 12. The Committee regards the existence of up to date, comprehensive and international law-compliant legislation underpinning civil registration as fundamental to the fulfillment of the child‟s right to a name, and to registration of birth. Legislation should specify, inter alia: the regulation of the role of government agencies involved in civil registration; the regulation of any semi government authorities involved in civil registration; the regulation of time periods for the registration of birth; details concerning the attribution of names and surnames in accordance with both custom and practice (albeit with due attention to the principles of non-discrimination on the basis of gender and birth status); the regulation of the use of technology to ensure that civil records maintain their probative value; regulations related to costs, access, and privacy of data; regulation of late and delayed registration procedures; information concerning the extent of information to be contained on the birth certificate, noting in particular that stigmatising information is to be avoided in the best interests of the child; regulations for obtaining an abridged or short form birth certificate; regulations to ensure the first copy of the birth certificate is provided free of charge and immediately upon registration; measures to prevent and combat fraud and counterfeiting of birth registration information; and regulations specifying the use of any digital technologies in the recording or storage of birth registration data. State Parties are encouraged to explore international and continental best practice in the formulation and development of civil registration legislation. 4. Key Principles underlying the implementation of Article 6 13. Like other children‟s rights, the rights to a name, to birth registration and to acquire a nationality cannot be fully implemented unless the cardinal principles of children‟s rights are carefully observed. The implementation of those rights requires taking into account the best interests of the child, non-discrimination principles, his/her survival, development and protection as well as his/her participation. The implementation of Article 6 also depends on good understanding of the principle of 6