A meeting of HCM City authorities on the issuance of birth certificates and personal identity documents to young people living in special circumstances and at shelters in Tân Phú and Bình Tân districts. — VNA/VNS Photo

HCM CITY — A survey has found more than two dozen children and youths aged up to 18 living in “special circumstances” and at shelters in HCM City’s Tân Phú and Bình Tân districts lacking birth certificates, personal identification numbers, household registration documents, and identity cards.

The survey was done by city authorities on June 7.

The law defines children in special circumstances as those who are unable to get protection, care, upbringing, or education, are abused, do not have parents or guardians, use intoxicants, and require special support and intervention.

In Tân Phú District, 16 lack identity cards, with seven having personal identification numbers but not temporary residence status.

Of the other nine, three were born abroad and six do not have personal identification numbers, have not been registered for permanent residence or are not in the national database.

In Bình Tân District, 10 children in charity classes and two in special circumstances lack ID cards.

Tân Phú authorities said the reasons include the children’s frequent movements in the absence of a permanent dwelling place, their parents' lack of complete identification documents and failure to obtain identification documents for them.

Deputy Chairman of the Bình Tân District People's Committee Lê Thị Ngọc Dung said there are also cases where young parents do not register their marriage, abandon their children or have them living with relatives.

Another problem is the difficulty in collecting citizens’ ID card applications from temporary residents as there are no regulations regarding their storage.

A regulation that allows citizens to choose their place of civil registration causes pressure on registration officers, especially in places with large numbers of temporary residents coming from other provinces and cities, she added.

Cao Thanh Bình, head of city People's Council’s cultural and social committee, said many localities have not fully understood or created regulations for the issuance of identification papers.

Local authorities should focus on issuing them to these children and youths, he said.

This is a humane and significant task requiring various agencies to work together, and would enable the children to study and work in future, he added. — VNS