The Office of the Children’s Advocate has questioned whether or not the National Identification System, NIDS-legislation, will require minors below age 18 to be fingerprinted.

UNIDSnder section 11 of the NIDS bill, fingerprint is listed as a type of identity information, that may be required from an individual for the purpose of enrolment.

Speaking during a meeting of the Joint Select Committee on the National Identification and Registration Act 2020, Tuesday, Children’s Advocate, Diahann Gordon Harrison, questioned if the NIDS bill considers a minimum age at which the fingerprinting of minors, will become applicable for the purposes of enrolment.

She says there are several factors to consider, including that the fingers and fingerprints of children grow as they age.

She suggests that 12 be the minimum age.