July 1, 2025. Sirajganj, Bangladesh Mothers who lacked birth certificates for themselves and family members hold up the newly obtained documents after a drive in Dhamainagar Union, part of a campaign to get people to register so they are eligible for social safety new programs. Juan Arredondo hide caption

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Juan Arredondo

"The Uncounted" is the name of a project by the Colombian-American photographer and filmmaker Juan Arredondo.

That title refers to people who have no life cycle records. No birth certificate. No death certificate. Or in some cases, the document may exist but finding a copy is like trying to climb Mount Everest.

Arredondo traveled to six countries to explore the importance of these records and the impact of their absence.…