1. Progress against global and regional commitments towards civil registration and universal legal identity
David Rausis, UNESCAP
Pacific Regional Workshop on Legal Identity and Identity Security
8-10 June
SPC Headquarters, Noumea , New Caledonia

2. Commitments towards Universal Legal Identity
Sustainable Development Goals
United Nations Human and Civil Rights Conventions
Health Islands Monitoring Framework
Asian and Pacific Civil Registration and Vital Statistics Decade ( )

3. Commitments towards the health islands monitoring framework
The umbrella policy, strategy and monitoring framework for health development in the Pacific Region
As part of regional commitments to CRVS, Pacific countries have made a commitment towards the health Islands monitoring framework. This is the umbrella policy, strategy and monitoring framework for health development in the Pacific region.

4. 48 Mandatory Indicators that are routinely measured and reported on
Core Indicators
(UPDATED Annually)
Complementary Indicators
(Reported on as survey data is updated)
31 Optional Indicators
(Reported Selectively, subject to national priorities and reporting systems)
ALONG WITH:
The Health Islands framework comprises of 48 mandatory health indicators that Pacific countries have agreed to routinely measure and report on.
These indicators are separated into two main types, core, which need to be updated annually, and complementary, those that need to be reported on as survey data is updated
In addition to the mandatory indicators, there are 31 optional indicators to be selectively reported on, subject to national priorities and reporting systems
A well functioning CRVS system provides continuous births, deaths and cause of death data, allowing for a routine accurate monitoring of the indicators

5. Commitments towards the Asian and Pacific Civil Registration and Vital Statistics Decade (2015-2024)
“By 2024, all people in Asia and the Pacific will benefit from universal and responsive civil registration and vital statistics systems”
Recognizing that the majority of countries in Asia and the Pacific do not have universal and responsive CRVS systems that meet international standards, Pacific countries have committed to the Asian and Pacific CRVS Decade ( ), an initiative aimed at focusing improvements of national CRVS systems in both regions.

6. Proclaimed at the Ministerial Conference on CRVS in Asia and the Pacific held November 2014 in Bangkok
timeframe for implementation
Adoption of the Ministerial Declaration to “Get Everyone in the Picture”
The Asian Pacific and CRVS Decade ( ): An initiative focusing improvements of national CRVS systems in Asia and the Pacific
The CRVS Decade was proclaimed at the Ministerial Conference on Civil Registration and Vital Statistics in Asia and the Pacific, held November 2014 in Bangkok, Thailand.
Through the declaration of the CRVS Decade, governments gave a timeframe of for all people in Asia and the Pacific to benefit from universal and responsive CRVS systems
During the 2014 Ministerial Conference, Governments also adopted the Ministerial Declaration to “Get Every One in the Picture” in Asia and the Pacific and a regional action framework

7. Regional Action Framework Goals:
1. Universal civil registration of births, deaths and other vital events
2. Provision to all individuals of documentation of civil registration of births, deaths and other vital events, as necessary, in order to claim identity, civil status and ensuring rights
3. Production and dissemination of accurate, complete and timely vital statistics based on registration records
Regional Action Framework Goals:
The Regional Action Framework outlines three key goals for the region

8. Sources for Measurement of Targets
10 countries submitted a baseline report in 2015 and therefore half of them have neither baselines nor 2024 targets
Other data sources can be substituted to allow for comparison (UNSD, National Vital Statistics Reports)
Different sources with potential different methodologies means issues of comparability. The figures measuring targets should therefore be seen as more of an indication of trends rather than a clear measure of progress
Next, we’re going to look at progress that his been made towards targets for each of the goals of the Regional Action Framework. We’re going to focus on targets 1A, 1D, 1E, 2A and 3H, targets specifically relevant to legal identity.
To measure Regional Action Framework Targets, the primary source is a baseline report that countries submitted at the beginning of the decade in However, since only 10 countries submitted baseline reports, half of them have neither baseline data nor 2024 targets.
Therefore, to allow for comparison with countries that did submit a report, data obtained from other sources such as UNSD and National Vital Statistics Reports have been used.
Since there are issues of comparability with using multiple sources, the figures presented here are more of an indication of trends rather than a clear measure of progress towards targets

9. Progress Against the Regional Action Framework
The following chart shows the progress countries have made towards key implementation steps of the Regional Action Framework. Half of the countries in the Pacific have either achieved all six implementation steps or have plans to do so.

10. Target 1A: Percentage of births registered (completeness rate)
Birth Registration Completeness: % of births registered within the legally stipulated time period (max. 1 year)
>90% is considered complete
Most countries that did not submit a baseline report already have a birth registration completeness >90%
By 2024, almost all countries will join them if their targets are reached
Target 1A: Percentage of births registered (completeness rate)
The first target of the Regional Action Framework (Target 1A) pertains to the percentage of births registered.
Birth registration should be the entry point into the identity management system. Registering children at birth is the first step in securing their recognition before the law, safeguarding their rights, and ensuring that any violation of these rights does not go unnoticed. Children without official identification documents may be denied health care or education.
Birth registration completeness is based on a threshold of 90% of births registered within the legally stipulated time period
At the beginning of the decade, birth registration completeness amongst countries in the Pacific ranged from 20% to 100%.
Not every country submitted a baseline report, but it can be said that almost all countries will have a birth registration completeness rate of 85% by 2024, especially since countries that did not submit a report have already reached this rate.

11. 1A: Percentage of Births Registered
Countries
2010
2011
2012
2013
2014
2015
2016
2017
PCRN, 2017a
Target 2024
American Samoa
75%
100%
Cook Islands
>90%
Fiji
42%
71%
62%
85%
French Polynesia
Guam
Kiribati
97%
91%
Micronesia (F.S.)
80%
95%
Nauru
90%
New Caledonia
Niue
Northern Mariana Islands
<90%
98%
Palau
Papua New Guinea
Samoa
20%
65%
Solomon Islands
29%
Tonga
89%
96%
Tuvalu
78%1
89%1
107%1
84%1
88%1
Vanuatu
75%1
82%1
93%1
Baseline reports, % of births registered within the legally stipulated time period
National Vital Statistics Reports
United Nations Statistics Division, Population and Vital Statistics Report
a Figures reported by countries at the Disaster Preparation and Response Workshop of the Pacific Civil Registrars Network, October 2017
1 Combining civil registration and health database
Here is a chart of the birth registration completeness rate for countries in the Pacific. The 2017 figures were reported by countries at the Disaster Preparation and Response Workshop of the Pacific Civil Registrars Network in October 2017
Some such as Micronesia are on track towards reaching birth registration completeness by 2024 while others such as Fiji show a positive trend towards reaching their 2024 goal.

12. Target 1D: Percent of deaths registered (completeness rate)
>90% is considered complete
Half the countries in the region have reached this threshold, the rest are close
Even if they reach their 2024 targets, some countries will still be below the 90% threshold
Target 1D: Percent of deaths registered (completeness rate)
The next key target, Target 1D is based on death registration completeness rate.
Death registration is the exit point of the identity management system. Death registration enables proof of death and the provision of legal rights to the family.
A registration rate of 90% or greater is considered complete.
Half the countries in the region have reached this threshold, the rest are close.
However, some countries will need to increase their 2024 targets to reach completeness

13. 1D: Percentage of Deaths Registered Completeness Rate
Countries
2010
2011
2012
2013
2014
2015
2016
2017
PCRN, 2017a
Target 2024
American Samoa
90%
100%
Cook Islands
>90%
Fiji
59%
88%
French Polynesia
Guam
Kiribati
91%
<90%
75%
Micronesia (F.S.)
98%
Nauru
95%1
New Caledonia
Niue
100%2
Northern Mariana Islands
Palau
Papua New Guinea
25%
Samoa
70%
Solomon Islands
12%
60%
Tonga
80%
58%
85%
Tuvalu
48%3
45% 3
77% 3
58% 3
79% 3
Vanuatu
62% 3
53% 3
42% 3
Baseline reports, % of deaths registered in a given year
National Vital Statistics Reports
United Nations Statistics Division, Population and Vital Statistics Report
a Figures reported by countries at the Disaster Preparation and Response Workshop of the Pacific Civil Registrars Network, October 2017
1 Does not include non-citizen; 2 Burials are only permitted with death certificate
3 Combining civil registration and health database
Countries such as Tonga, Samoa and Solomon Island need to increase their 2024 targets to obtain death registration completeness

14. Several countries can improve in efforts to assign a medically certified cause of death to all health sector recorded deaths, but if they maintain current pace, they will reach their 2024 target
Target 1E: Percent of deaths recorded by the health sector with a medically certified cause of death recorded using the international form of the death certificate
Target 1E pertains to the percent of deaths recorded by the health sector with a medically certified cause of death recorded using the international form of the death certificate
Together with adequate training and processes, medical certification facilitates the correct coding of the underlying cause of death using ICD Codes
Several countries can improve in efforts to assign a medically certified cause of death to all health sector recorded deaths, but if they maintain current pace, they will reach their 2024 target

15. 1E: Percent of Deaths Recorded by the Health Sector with a Medically Certified Cause of Death Recorded Using the International Form of Death Certificate
Countries
Baseline 2014
PCRN, 2017a
Target 2024
American Samoa
100%
Cook Islands
78%
Fiji
99%
Kiribati
16%1
75%
80%
Micronesia (F.S.)
98%
Nauru
97%
Niue
Northern Mariana Islands
Papua New Guinea
Samoa
70%
95%
Solomon Islands
16%
50%
Tonga NA
Tuvalu
85%
a. Figures reported by countries at the Disaster Preparation and Response Workshop of the Pacific Civil Registrars Network, October 2017
1. Death outside health facilities and also death from public health facilities (outer islands) do not use International form of the death certificate.
Countries such as Kiribati and Solomon Islands have lower percentage rates of deaths with cause of death recorded but are on track to reach their 2024 target

16. The issuance of an official birth certificate (with minimum information) should follow the registration of a birth.
It serves as proof of identity and can be used as evidence in legal proceedings, to meet administrative requirements, and accessing services
Most countries are issuing certificates for all registered births and some have already reached their 2024 target
Target 2A: Percent of births registered accompanied with the issuance of an official birth certificate
Target 2A is based on the percent of births registered accompanied with the issuance of an official birth certificate. The issuance of a birth certificate with minimum information should follow the registration of a birth
It serves as proof of identity and can be used as evidence in legal proceedings, to meet administrative requirements, and accessing services
Most countries are issuing certificates for all registered births and some have already reached their 2024 target

17. 2A: Percent of births registered accompanied with the issuance of an official birth certificate
Countries
Baseline, 2015a
PCRN, 2017b
Target 2024
American Samoa
100%
95%
Cook Islands
Fiji
<100%
Kiribati
Micronesia (F.S.)
90%
Nauru
Niue
Papua New Guinea
50%
Samoa
30%
85%
Solomon Islands
49%
70%
Tonga
Tuvalu
a Figures reported by countries in their baseline report in 2015
b Figures reported by countries at the Disaster Preparation and Response Workshop of the Pacific Civil Registrars Network, October 2017
Many countries, highlighted in green, are already issuing birth certificates and have reached their 2024 target

18. For many governments, routine generation of accurate, complete and timely statistics on births, deaths and causes of death will require medium-term strategic and prioritizing investment to improve CRVS systems
Statistics should be published in a vital statistics report with explanations on the data and limitations
Target 3H: Vital statistics report for the previous two years, using registration records as the primary source, is made available in the public domain
Target 3H is based on a statistics report for the previous two years, using registration records as the primary source being made. available in the public domain
Vital Statistics reports are an essential method for countries to publish accurate, complete, and timely statistics on births, deaths, and causes of death.

19. Countries who have not set targets are progressing too
Target 3H
American Samoa
Achieved
Cook Islands
Achieved (2015 report published 2019 report expected to be published)
Fiji
Achieved (2019 Report Published)
Kiribati
Achieved (2018 report published)
Micronesia
2024
Nauru
Achieved (2019 report expected to be published)
Niue
Papa New Guinea
Samoa
2019
Solomon Islands
2025 (2016 report published)
Tonga
2017
Tuvalu
Vanuatu
Most are on track to be able to publish a report by the end of the Decade in 2024.
Countries who have not set targets are progressing too
Even after reaching targets, some countries may still lag behind others. The midterm questionnaire will hopefully identify areas to address
Many countries have published their first vital statistics report or are drafting it. It can be assumed that most countries will be able to produce a report by the end of the decade in 2024
Even after reaching 2024 targets, it is important to note that some countries may sill lag behind in comparison to others
The midterm questionnaire will hopefully identify specific areas of focus to prevent this from happening

20. To continue improving CRVS systems by ensuring at least 90% of births and deaths are registered within the legally stipulated time period, thus allowing for the use of civil registration as a basis for identity management systems and the production of vital statistics.
Strengthen their collaboration with the health sector to underline the importance of recording medically certified causes of death.
Ensure no or low fees for the provision of legal documentation of civil registration so that all individuals can be provided with it.
Take advantage of the recent progress in the completeness of civil registration data to promote their use for the production of vital statistics
Recommendations
The following are recommendations for civil registration officials of Pacific Island Countries

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