The Need for a Civil Registration System

The Need for a Civil Registration System

Three parts Definition and essential features – the United Nations framework for developing and improving civil registration Importance of civil registration - human rights and vital statistics Summary Presentation parts

Civil registration is Universal Continuous Permanent Compulsory recording of vital events Definition of civil registration

Definition of civil registration • State-run public institution • Serving general and individual interests by • Gathering • Screening • Documenting • Filing • Safekeeping • Correcting and updating • Certifying Providing official and permanent record

Civil Registration Outputs • Quite a number of outputs – two main categories • Relevant to an individual • Original documents • Copies • Extracts • Relevant to a society (aggregated individual outputs) • Statistics • Health services • Health registers • Family planning • Resource allocations

Civil registration – individual output • Providing official and permanent record (an example)

Civil registration – aggregated output • Creating a statistical record • Validation of data • Electronic format • Data editing • Data processing • Tabulation, analysis, dissemination

Civil registration – aggregated output Age specific fertility rates, early 2000

Civil Registration Components • Law • Civil administration infrastructure • Population participation • Service to the public • Ensuring confidentiality • Checks and balances

Principles and recom mendations Rev. 2 Management, operation and maintenance Legal framework Information, education and comm. Computer- ization Release and archiving- individual records United Nations Civil Registration Network

Civil Registration and its importance • Exercise of many United Nations endorsed human rights directly depends on registration and the existence of the civil registration system “Every child shall be registered immediately after birth and shall have a name.” International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights Convention on the Rights of the Child

Civil Registration and its importance • Codification of international human rights provides the right to register: • Deaths – International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights • Foetal deaths - International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights • Marriage - International Convention on Consent to Marriage and Registration of Marriage • Divorce – United Nations General Assembly resolutions

Civil Registration and its importance • Lack of registration  Denying basic human right • Examples 1. Right to own identity The child shall be registered immediately after birth and shall have the right from birth to a name, the right to acquire nationality and, as far as possible, the right to know and be cared for by his or her parents. – Article 7 of the Convention on the Rights of the Child.

Civil Registration and its importance • Lack of registration  Denying basic human right • Examples 2. Right to non-discrimination by reason of birth States Parties shall respect and ensure the rights set forth in the present Convention to each child within its jurisdiction without discrimination of any kind, irrespective of the child’s or his or her parent’s or legal guardian’s race, color, sex, language, religion, political or other opinion, national, ethnic or social origin, property, disability, birth or other status.– Article 2 of the Convention on the Rights of the Child.

Civil Registration and its importance • Lack of registration  Denying basic human right • Examples 3. Right to education States Parties recognize the right of the child to education and with a view to achieving this right progressively and on the basis of equal opportunity, they shall, in particular: a) Make primary education compulsory and available free for all …; - Article 28 of the Convention on the Rights of the Child.

Civil Registration and its importance • Lack of registration  Denying basic human right • Examples 4. Right to marry The right of men and women of marriageable age to marry should be recognized. – Article 23 of the Covenant on Civil and Political Rights.

Civil Registration and its importance • Lack of registration  Denying basic human right • Examples 5. Right to (elect) vote and get elected Every citizen shall have the right and the opportunity, without any of the distinctions … to vote and to be elected at genuine periodic elections which shall be by universal and equal suffrage and shall be held by secret ballot, guaranteeing the free expression of will of the electors – Article 25 of the Covenant on Civil and Political Rights.

Civil Registration and its importance • Civil registers are the best source of vital statistics as • Universal • Permanent • Continuous • Compulsory • Vital statistics is essential for planning and providing the numerical profile of the nation

Civil Registration and its importance • Incomplete registration • Civil registration system in development • Lack of vital statistics • Lack of population estimates

Civil Registration and its importance • Enormous challenges • Stakeholders • Importance • Human rights • Statistics • Good governance

Governing Good and efficient governing must be based on informed decisions, that is why it needs qualitative and accurate vital statistics. Ensuring basic human right is crucial for the normal functioning and governing of societies worldwide. Vital Statistics Human Rights Civil registration is, without doubt, the best source for accurate and reliable vital statistics. Civil Registration The exercise of many human rights depends directly on the existence of the functioning civil registration system. Efficient and legitimate governing at all levels requires civil registration for its legal implications – citizenship, for example. The lack of vital statistics directly affects the exercise of human right.. Civil Registration and its importance

The Need for a Civil Registration System