The Need for a Civil Registration System

Presentation parts 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

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

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 (driver’s license, passport …) 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

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

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 Source: UN Population Division Total population: 212,092,000 Population 0-4: 21,782,000 First graders in 2002: 4,356,400 1.5 teachers per 30 students Number of teachers needed: 217,820 Source: 2000 Population Census Total population: 203,456,000 Population 0-4: 20,910,720 First graders in 2002: 4,182,144 1.5 teachers per 30 students Number of teachers needed: 209,107 Difference over 8,000 teachers

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

Civil Registration and its importance Human Rights Civil Registration Vital Statistics 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. The exercise of many human rights depends directly on the existence of the functioning civil registration system. Civil registration is, without doubt, the best source for accurate and reliable vital statistics. 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..