not be evident from any certificate issued, despite the fact that it may be recorded in registry databases. 4.3 17. Survival, development and protection The rights of the child to survival, development and protection commend that he or she benefit from special measures of protection from his/her early infancy. The rights under discussion are crucial to the establishment of a child‟s identity. The Committee considers a child‟s identity as one of the cornerstones to ensure his/her survival, development and protection. For example, comprehensive information about births makes it easier for governments to plan for immunization, prevention of early infant diseases such as malaria, neonatal HIV, and other communicable diseases that contribute to the reduction of child mortality. For governments to be able to accurately plan for infant and child health, for early childhood education, for social grants where applicable, and for material and other support to parents in the fulfillment of their parenting responsibilities, they need accurate and comprehensive statistics on births. 18. Proof of identity through the birth registration system can also contribute to the prevention of and protection from harmful practices that particularly threaten children whose identity cannot be established such as abandoned and some separated children, as well as stateless children. Such practices as children trafficking, sexual exploitation, early marriage, illicit adoption, and child enrolment in armed forces, are also less likely to occur, and easier to prevent, when effective birth registration systems are in place. 19. The Committee wishes to introduce the concept of death registration, which, although not specifically present in the African Children‟s Charter, flows from the recommendation to strengthen CRVS systems in Africa. Death registration forms part of the civil registration system and can be as important in the protection of children‟s lives and rights as birth registration. Death registration can provide valuable information on the causes of the death. Knowledge of the causes of infant 8