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Asia-Pacific Civil Registration and Vital Statistics Research Forum

The United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (ESCAP) will organize the first Asia-Pacific CRVS Research Forum to be held from 3 – 4 April 2023. Hosted by ESCAP in Bangkok, this fully online event offers a major research, information sharing, and capacity-building opportunity for participants, who will be able to present at and attend paper presentations and interactive sessions, including networking opportunities.

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Second Ministerial Conference on CRVS in Asia and the Pacific

The Second Ministerial Conference on CRVS took place from the 16th to 19th November, 2021. It has been the occasion to celebrate progress through the CRVS Decade (2015-2024), identify remaining challenges, emphasize CRVS for sustainable development and promote CRVS as the foundation for legal identity.

Recordings, side-events and preparatory and outcome documents can be consulted on this website.

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Launch of Getting Every One in the Picture - a snapshot of progress midway through the Asian and Pacific Civil Registration and Vital Statistics Decade

In preparation of the Second Ministerial Conference on CRVS in Asia and the Pacific held from 16 to 19 November 2021, ESCAP has prepared a report on the situation of CRVS systems in the region. By celebrating the progresses and highlighting the challenges remaining to achieving universal registration systems, the report aims at shaping the priorities for the second half of the Decade.

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Resources for civil registration during the COVID-19 pandemic

The current pandemic is disrupting CRVS systems all over the world, but also highlighting why well-functioning systems are more essential than ever. As a result, the UN Statistics Division, the World Health Organization and the UN Legal Identity Agenda Task Force developed COVID-19 resources offering guidance for civil registration stakeholders on maintaining CRVS activities.

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Follow CRVS news in Asia and the Pacific by subscribing to the CRVS Insight Newsletter

The CRVS community in Asia and the Pacific has reflected on where it stands at the midpoint of the CRVS Decade (2015-2024) during the Second Ministerial Conference. Following this celebration of progress, many of our partners and member countries are leading actions to fill the remaining gaps.

To learn more about CRVS in Asia and the Pacific, please subscribe to our newsletter, which offers a monthly panorama of CRVS actions throughout the region

Previous editions can be found here.

Birth Registration

This document highlights the importance of birth registration in Africa and presents the status of birth registration, what is currently being done and recommendations for improvement.

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Birth Certificate Content Review

The New South Wales Registry of Births Deaths and Marriages (“the Registry”) is reviewing the content of birth certificates in Australia. This review is being undertaken for the following reasons: To examine changes in how birth certificates are used; in consideration of how birth certificates can best reflect the changing composition of families in Australia; and in response to recommendations of the Senate Community Affairs Committee inquiry into the Commonwealth’s role in former adoption policies and practices.

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Assessing the reliability of hospital-based cause-of-death statistics evidence-based guidelines for country application

The objective of this study is to synthesise the findings from a large number of studies that have used medical record reviews to validate the COD reported on the death certificate or through the vital registration system. Based on an analysis of a core set of these studies, we developed a methodological framework for medical record reviews for countries to follow for routinely validating their CODs.

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Africa Regional Assessment Tool

This is a draft copy of the CRVS assessment tool in Africa.

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Advocating for civil registration: guide to developing a business case for civil registration systems

This working paper provides practical information on the preparation and use of a business case in support of a civil registration system. The paper outlines a six-step approach to building the business case and comprises – assessing the current system; conducting research and formulating the arguments; identifying, analysing and engaging with stakeholders; and, presenting the case to the relevant decision-makers. The paper describes ideas for mobilising support for implementing civil registration systems. It includes a cost–benefit analysis to help decision-makers understand the short-term and long-term costs, benefits and impacts of a registration system.

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Beyond Asia-Pacific

Beyond the Get Every One in the Picture initiative in Asia-Pacific, numerous global and regional bodies are actively working to improve national CRVS systems.

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What is CRVS?

Civil registration and vital statistics (CRVS) is the continuous, permanent, compulsory and universal recording of the occurrence and characteristics of vital events of the population in accordance with the law. The actors in a CRVS system typically include the civil registration authorities, Ministry of Interior or Home Affairs, Ministry of Justice, Ministry of Health, National Statistics Office and development partners.

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Asia Pacific Population Journal

In this series of articles, the role of universal civil registration and vital statistics (CRVS) systems is examined as an essential tool for good governance and inclusive development. In the first article in the series, the case is made for investing in CRVS systems; the current situation in countries in the region is described, and the emergence and development of regional collaboration on CRVS is summarized. In the second article, the actions taken in specific countries to strengthen their CRVS systems are highlighted, and the lessons learned are described, with several innovative approaches being showcased. The third article contains a description of the relationships between CRVS systems (civil registration and population databases in particular), legal identity, the realization of human rights and access to basic social protection, using country examples from the Asia-Pacific region for these purposes. In the fourth and final article, the importance of building a sound evidence base for efforts to improve CRVS is highlighted, and a framework for prioritizing research activities is proposed.

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SDG target 16.9 on legal identity

The new Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), including goal 16 containing the target on providing legal identity for all, including birth registration (target 16.9) were endorsed at the United Nations General Assembly in September 2015.

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Regional Action Framework

The Regional Action Framework responds to the request for further regional action to support the improvement of civil registration and vital statistics (CRVS) systems, being a catalyst for Governments and development partners to focus and accelerate their efforts to realize a shared vision and the 3 CRVS goals. The Regional Action Framework facilitates collaborative action at local, provincial, national and international levels by enabling multiple stakeholders to align and prioritize their efforts, as well as to monitor progress towards achieving shared results. Guided by the Regional Steering Group for Civil Registration and Vital Statistics in Asia and the Pacific.
The Regional Action Framework contains 3 goals, 15 nationally set targets, 7 action areas as well as 8 implementation steps for countries to follow to improve their CRVS systems.