LEARN MORE
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WHAT IS THE IDENTITY DAY CAMPAIGN?The Identity Day (ID Day) Campaign seeks worldwide recognition of 16 September as Identity Day to highlight the importance of having proof of identity. The campaign was launched in April 2018 by ID4Africa at its 4th Annual Meeting of the Movement in Abuja, Nigeria. It is intended to address the lack of a dedicated day of commemoration for identity which is a fundamental right and practical necessity in today’s digital age.
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WHAT IS IT'S OBJECTIVE?ID Day focuses on three fundamentals in identity: inclusion, protection, and utility. It aims to raise awareness about the estimated 850 million people worldwide, particularly in Africa, who lack proof of identity, reaffirming the commitment to achieve total inclusion. The campaign also reminds individuals with identification to secure their identity against theft. Furthermore, it offers an opportunity for individuals with identification to evaluate how their identity empowers and simplifies their daily lives.
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WHY 16 SEPT?The chosen date, 16 September (16.9), symbolically references UN Sustainable Development Goal 16.9, which aims to provide legal identity, including birth registration, to all individuals by 2030.
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HOW CAN YOU SUPPORT ID DAY?Whether you represent an organization or have a personal interest in ID Day there are many ways to support this important campaign. Aside from becoming a Coalition Partner or Friend of the Coalition, consider holding activities that help to drive awareness. Check out the ID Day Activities page or download a copy of the Campaign Guidance Document for a few creative ideas you can explore to show your support (download here). Remember to share your activities with us to inspire others!
WHAT DO WE
COMMEMORATE
ON ID DAY?
Identity Day is a moment for us to pause and reflect on three (3) fundamentals of identity: Inclusion, Protection, and Utility.
INCLUSION
ID Day sensitizes us to the plight of those who lack proof of identity (estimated at 850 million, with about half in Africa) and reaffirms our commitment to achieving total inclusion, so that no one is left behind.
PROTECTION
ID Day is a reminder, for those who have proof of identity, to verify that their identity is secured against theft and their privacy is protected. It reaffirms that protecting our most valuable asset is an ongoing concern.
UTILITY
ID Day is also an opportunity for those who have proof of identity, to check if they are reaping the highest returns on their identity by asking how well their identity can be used to empower them and simplify their daily lives. It is the ideal occasion to call on service providers to adopt identity-enabled service delivery.
WHO ELSE IS SUPPORTING THE CALL?
Nearly 210 international organizations support the call as Coalition Partners in one of four categories– Development, Government, NGO & Civil Society, Commercial.
JOIN THE COALITION
If your organization is an identity stakeholder that supports responsible use of identity for good and endorses September 16 as a commemorative day for identity, join the Coalition. It does not imply any legal or financial commitment but is an effective way to demonstrate your support of this initiative.
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