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Joint Birth Registration

Promoting Parental Responsibility

In June 2007 the Government published a green paper 'Joint birth registration: promoting parental responsibility' as part of their reform of the child maintenance system and the promotion of joint parental responsibility in a culture where fewer people formalise their relationships through marriage. By linking the subject of joint birth registration so closely with child maintenance and financial accountability, the Government risks making this legislation less likely to be accepted by those who fear being chased for money at a later stage, says the response to the green paper from  Mission & Public Affairs. It argues that an active and positive approach to encourage both parents to nurture and care for their children through all services offered at birth (registration, health etc) offers a better way forward than a legislative approach which may well be interpreted as oppressive and potentially punitive by those it seeks to support.