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 Sovannaroth Tey, who, as an Associate Statistician at ESCAP, has been an instrumental member of the ESCAP’s CRVS team. As he transitions to a new role, we want to recognize his significant contributions to strengthening CRVS systems and his dedication to our shared mission. 

What is your current title and role? 

I am an Associate Statistician in the Population and Social Statistics Section, Statistics Division of ESCAP. I have a few responsibilities but one that I hold dear is my role in the Civil Registration and Vital Statistics (CRVS) team. I think of the role as helping governments to register everyone, (re)issue civil status documents, and produce quality and timely vital statistics to ensure every individual gets access to services and can exercise their rights. Essentially, I help get everyone in the picture! 

Can you please share with us a particular experience which highlighted the importance of CRVS to you?

An experience that struck a chord with me was a story that I heard at a workshop I attended. A researcher presented findings from his interviews with some floating villagers who had no permanent settlement, no identity documents, and no means of enjoying their rights and freedom like others. After listening to a story about a girl from the floating village who dreamt of working a proper job to support her family but couldn’t because she had no civil status document, I immediately realized the significance of civil registration as a gateway to a better life for many. 

How are you currently involved in CRVS improvements?

I can proudly say I was part of a passionate and professional team at the Population and Social Statistics Section, Statistics Division, ESCAP that organized the biggest CRVS event in recent years, the Third Ministerial Conference on CRVS in Asia and the Pacific. Over 500 participants attended with over 400 delegates including Ministers and Deputy Ministers from more than 20 members and associate members of ESCAP. A key outcome from the Ministerial Conference is the Ministerial Declaration on a Decade of Action for Inclusive and Resilient Civil Registration and Vital Statistics in Asia and the Pacific which formally extends the Asia-Pacific CRVS Decade to 2030, providing additional time and mandates to accelerate CRVS improvement progress. 

I also led the 2025 review of progress in implementing the Regional Action Framework on CRVS in Asia and the Pacific and published a flagship report in the lead up to the Ministerial Conference. The report assessed CRVS achievements for 50 members and associate members of ESCAP since the start of the Decade in 2015 against their national targets. Of course, many colleagues both at ESCAP and our wonderful CRVS partners provided much-needed support to ensure the successful completion of this process. 

I am now handing over my remaining responsibilities to my successor whom I’m sure will perform the role just as well, if not better, than I did. 

Which advice would you give to others trying to improve CRVS systems?

As I transition to my new role, I look back and cherish my time working on CRVS. If I were to give one advice to others working to improve CRVS systems, I would say never ever take CRVS for granted. For people in a position of privilege, civil registration may feel like an administrative process that you need to complete to access some services. For those in vulnerable and underprivileged communities, it could be the key to change their lives (and their families’) forever. 

We would like to extend our best wishes to Sovannaroth Tey for continued success in his new role and thank him for his great contributions to get every one in the picture.