Civil Registration establishes the individual’s right to recognition as a person before the law and is the fundamental source of legally valid identity data used across government services.
The functioning of the three systems depend on a series of common elements that include, but are not limited to: training, assessments and evaluations, identity management, data security and privacy, information and communications technology, etc.
Women and girls face unique barriers, including laws in some countries that require the signature of a husband or father on official registration documents.
CRVS systems permit the production of statistics on population dynamics, health, and inequities in service delivery, providing more accurate information for assessing progress in improving economic growth and reducing poverty.
The data generated by Civil Registration systems can also be used to track progress toward 12 of the 17 United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals related to education, economic growth, employment, health, and disabilities.
[6][7] At the local level, accurate information is essential for planning how to meet the needs of the community, particularly for health and education facilities, as well as for housing and evaluating labour/employment requirements.
This makes it easier for women to access crucial services such as health, education, banking, political representation, and to lay claim to inheritance and/or property rights.
These negative effects of being unregistered can extend to a woman’s children, who often depend on their mother for access to health care, education, and protection.
These are needed to access property rights, pension benefits, child support, or inheritance when a marriage ends, or when a spouse or parent dies.
In many low- and middle-income countries, however, Civil Registration systems are still paper-based and coverage is incomplete so many people don’t have the documentation needed to establish individual identity.
Research by the World Bank shows that more than 1.1 billion people worldwide are unable to prove who they are, a reality that exposes them to poverty, exploitation, and abusive treatment.
The death certificate permits the removal of individuals from the register, which is important for updating electoral rolls, pensions and other social security mechanisms for the distribution of goods and services.
Over the past decade, there has been increasing recognition that for Civil Registration to have the required impact, it needs to be integrated with national identity systems that deliver the link between foundational and functional (passport, banking, health, education, social welfare, etc.)
Millions of people are left on the margins of society as a result – particularly in countries with fragile economic and political climates, as these have the weakest institutions and the fewest resources to break the cycle of invisibility and exclusion.
Social protection programs are tools used by governments to prevent, manage, and overcome situations that adversely affect people’s well-being.
Protecting CRVS systems must be part of each country’s adaptation plans to ensure that conflict, natural disasters and pandemics do not leave populations without access to rights and services.
As governments around the world rush to control the spread of COVID-19 and provide medical, nutritional, and financial support where it is most needed, the importance of a well-functioning CRVS system has been thrown into sharp relief.
The importance of maintaining CR during the pandemic has been underscored by the United Nations which considers that “Civil Registration should be considered an ‘essential service’ mandated to continue operations during a pandemic.” [22] Access to accurate and complete data about the age and family structure of populations in specific towns or villages, as well as the locations and causes of deaths as they happen, offers immediate value to governments during such times of crisis.
Even when facilities remained open, demand for birth and death registration fell because of social distancing orders, movement restrictions, and fear of becoming infected.
Digital tools make it possible for clients to notify and register vital events as they occur, and reduce the risks related to late registration and non-registration of children.
In situations of disasters and emergencies, Civil Registration systems play a crucial role such as supporting reunification of individuals with their families and providing critical data to governments needed for planning for relief and other forms of assistance.