Ethiopia to Celebrate International Identity Day Focusing on Ensuring Inclusivity

Addis Ababa: Ethiopia joins the global community in celebrating International Identity Day on September 16th with a focus on building an inclusive identity system for all.The Office of the National ID Program will organize a virtual meeting of government officials and experts at 5:00 p.m. today that will focus on the International Identity Day celebration set for Monday.National ID Program Communication Director, Abenezer Feleke told ENA that the International Identity Day is going to be celebrated in a way that highlights an inclusive identity system that benefits the individual and society.He said that the celebration of the day is not only a human right, but also an opportunity for citizens to realize that it is important to get any service easily, actively participate in social, economic and political issues.The National Identity Program has organized a video conference starting at 5:00 p.m. today in which senior officials and experts will participate.The main purpose of the conference is to foc us on the services provided by digital identity and the infrastructure of the sector and to lay down solution directions.Minister of Innovation and Technology Belete Mola, National ID Program Director General Yodahe Zemikael, National Bank of Ethiopia Senior Advisor Jotework Ayele, and representatives of international institutions are expected to share their views during the discussion.International Identity Day is celebrated every year on September 16th to emphasize the basic importance of having a verified identity and that identity should be inclusive.The chosen date, 16 September (16.9), symbolically references UN Sustainable Development Goal 16.9, which calls for providing legal identity, including birth registration, to all individuals by 2030.Source: Ethiopian News Agency