<p>Until he received his Thai citizenship and identification card this month, life was very difficult for 17-year-old Joe as a stateless person.</p> <p>&ldquo;I couldn&rsquo;t go to places I wanted to go, though the rest of my family could. Police always stopped me from leaving my village since I didn&rsquo;t have anything to prove I was Thai,&rdquo; he says. </p>

<p>Governments across Asia must register all children at birth to effectively address the issue of stateless people, says global child rights organisation Plan International. </p>

<p>INDIA must urgently tackle its &lsquo;vanishing&rsquo; girl population as the nation awaits the birth of the world&rsquo;s 7 billionth baby, says child rights organisation Plan International.</p>