The 74th session of Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific Commission (ESCAP) will be held from May 11th to 16th 2018 at the United Nations Conference Centre in Bangkok, Thailand. The annual Commission Session provides a forum for Governments of the region to review and discuss economic and social issues and strengthen regional cooperation. Moreover, it provides a platform for decision-makers to launch regional initiatives.

As such, the 71st ESCAP Commission Session launched the Asia-Pacific CRVS Decade (2015-2024). Much progress has been made in the meantime. Yet, strengthening CRVS systems within the region remains more than relevant under this year’s session theme topic “Inequality in the era of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development”. The vision of the 2030 Agenda to “leave no one behind” is uniquely linked to providing legal proof of identification, and consequently recognizing individual rights.

Maintaining the momentum generated at the beginning of the CRVS Decade is thus essential to ensuring further progress. The decision made during the 3rd meeting of the Regional Steering Group to hold a ministerial conference in 2020 to accelerate progress on civil registration and vital statistics improvements could therefore mark another milestone within the region. A resolution on holding a ministerial conference on CRVS in 2020 has been set forth by the Government of Fiji under the leadership of Her Excellency Rosy Akbar and the stewardship of Mr. Pita Tagicakirewa. The resolution is currently under review and will be decided upon during the Commission Session. Support for the resolution is very much appreciated, and stakeholders are invited to express co-sponsorship during the sessions.