The United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (ESCAP), in collaboration with the United Nations Economic Commission for Africa (ECA), will organize the second CRVS Research Forum on 30 March - 1 April 2026 in Bangkok, Thailand.
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Members and Associate Members of ESCAP have undertaken a review of their progress since the inception of the Asia Pacific CRVS Decade in 2014. Data from questionnaires distributed in 2024 to National CRVS focal points have been compiled into a Report on the 2025 Review of Progress Made on Civil Registration and Vital Statistics in Asia and the Pacific After a Decade of Getting Every One in the Picture.
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The CRVS applied research training (CART) initiative focuses on enhancing CRVS systems through supporting applied research on strategies, interventions, and tools. This involves designing projects to address practical questions, employing robust methodologies, and identifying key personnel for effective implementation and publication. The need to strengthen practitioners' research capacity is evident, as highlighted in the Asia-Pacific CRVS research forum held in 2023.
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To meet the targets of the CRVS Decade, a Business Process Improvement approach can help improve and streamline Civil Registration and Vital Statistics (CRVS) system. The CRVS Systems Improvement Framework help CRVS stakeholders assess, analyze and redesign, to improve user experience and produce timely vital statistics.
Read MoreThe 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. |
Photo credit: UNFPA / Asad Zaidi
Kazakhstan has reached a significant milestone in child rights protection, achieving an almost universal birth registration rate. Recent findings from UNICEF and the Ministry of Education highlight this accomplishment as a critical step toward ensuring that every child in the country is legally recognized from birth. Experts emphasize that this achievement reflects Kazakhstan’s sustained commitment to international standards on child welfare and identity rights.
A new discussion paper by ESCAP, in collaboration with UNFPA and Vital Strategies, reviews the latest available evidence on Viet Nam’s civil registration system, highlighting where progress has been made and where gaps remain, particularly in the completeness and timeliness of birth and death registration.
This Discussion Paper reviews recent evidence in Viet Nam’s civil registration system and highlights persistent gaps in birth and death registration coverage. It summarizes key recommendations from national reports, including the Vital Statistics Report (2021–2024), and proposes areas for further analysis to inform the development of the 2026–2030 National Programme of Actions on CRVS. The paper aims to support dialogue among stakeholders and guide future efforts to address CRVS disparities.
Gender Data Network online event, “Ensuring Everyone Counts: Gender-Responsive CRVS Systems for Inclusive Development.”
The session will explore key gender dimensions of civil registration and vital statistics (CRVS) systems, why they matter for inclusive development, and practical country experiences.
Consultation Workshop: Discussion and Validation of Findings for CRVS Completeness Assessment
Objectives
2025 Q4 Meeting of the Civil Registration Professionals of South Asia (CR8)
Theme: Advancing Priorities for Resilient and Inclusive CRVS Systems in South Asia
The CART Initiative is a transformative program designed to strengthen Civil Registration and Vital Statistics (CRVS) systems across Africa, Asia and the Pacific by building local research capacity. Through a structured blend of training, mentorship, networking and applied research, CART empowers participants, especially government officials and other CRVS practitioners, to investigate and address real-world challenges in CRVS systems.
This online event marks the launch of the 3rd cohort of the CART.
Our community newsletter puts a spotlight on people who have gone above and beyond in their efforts to support CRVS programmes in Asia and the Pacific, raise awareness of CRVS issues or lead CRVS improvement efforts in their home country or in the region. This month, we would like to dedicate this issue of Insight to Russell Burnard.
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