1. United Nations Workshop on the Improvement of Civil Registration and Vital Statistics in the SADC Region Blantyre, Malawi, 1 - 5 December 2007 The Need for a Civil Registration System

2. United Nations Workshop on the Improvement of Civil Registration and Vital Statistics in the SADC Region Blantyre, Malawi, 1 - 5 December 2007 Three parts 1.Definition and essential features – the United Nations framework for developing and improving civil registration 2.Importance of civil registration - human rights and vital statistics 3.Summary Presentation parts

3. United Nations Workshop on the Improvement of Civil Registration and Vital Statistics in the SADC Region Blantyre, Malawi, 1 - 5 December 2007 Civil registration is –Universal –Continuous –Permanent –Compulsory recording of vital events Definition of civil registration

4. United Nations Workshop on the Improvement of Civil Registration and Vital Statistics in the SADC Region Blantyre, Malawi, 1 - 5 December 2007 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

5. United Nations Workshop on the Improvement of Civil Registration and Vital Statistics in the SADC Region Blantyre, Malawi, 1 - 5 December 2007 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

6. United Nations Workshop on the Improvement of Civil Registration and Vital Statistics in the SADC Region Blantyre, Malawi, 1 - 5 December 2007 Civil registration – individual output Providing official and permanent record (an example)

7. United Nations Workshop on the Improvement of Civil Registration and Vital Statistics in the SADC Region Blantyre, Malawi, 1 - 5 December 2007 Civil registration – aggregated output Creating a statistical record –Validation of data –Electronic format –Data editing –Data processing –Tabulation, analysis, dissemination

8. United Nations Workshop on the Improvement of Civil Registration and Vital Statistics in the SADC Region Blantyre, Malawi, 1 - 5 December 2007 Civil registration – aggregated output Age specific fertility rates, early 2000

9. United Nations Workshop on the Improvement of Civil Registration and Vital Statistics in the SADC Region Blantyre, Malawi, 1 - 5 December 2007 Civil Registration Components Law Civil administration infrastructure Population participation Service to the public Ensuring confidentiality Checks and balances

10. United Nations Workshop on the Improvement of Civil Registration and Vital Statistics in the SADC Region Blantyre, Malawi, 1 - 5 December 2007 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

11. United Nations Workshop on the Improvement of Civil Registration and Vital Statistics in the SADC Region Blantyre, Malawi, 1 - 5 December 2007 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

12. United Nations Workshop on the Improvement of Civil Registration and Vital Statistics in the SADC Region Blantyre, Malawi, 1 - 5 December 2007 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

13. United Nations Workshop on the Improvement of Civil Registration and Vital Statistics in the SADC Region Blantyre, Malawi, 1 - 5 December 2007 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.

14. United Nations Workshop on the Improvement of Civil Registration and Vital Statistics in the SADC Region Blantyre, Malawi, 1 - 5 December 2007 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.

15. United Nations Workshop on the Improvement of Civil Registration and Vital Statistics in the SADC Region Blantyre, Malawi, 1 - 5 December 2007 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.

16. United Nations Workshop on the Improvement of Civil Registration and Vital Statistics in the SADC Region Blantyre, Malawi, 1 - 5 December 2007 Civil Registration and its importance Lack of registration  Denying basic human right Examples 4. Right to marry T he right of men and women of marriageable age to marry should be recognized. – Article 23 of the Covenant on Civil and Political Rights.

17. United Nations Workshop on the Improvement of Civil Registration and Vital Statistics in the SADC Region Blantyre, Malawi, 1 - 5 December 2007 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.

18. United Nations Workshop on the Improvement of Civil Registration and Vital Statistics in the SADC Region Blantyre, Malawi, 1 - 5 December 2007 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

19. United Nations Workshop on the Improvement of Civil Registration and Vital Statistics in the SADC Region Blantyre, Malawi, 1 - 5 December 2007 – 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

20. United Nations Workshop on the Improvement of Civil Registration and Vital Statistics in the SADC Region Blantyre, Malawi, 1 - 5 December 2007 Enormous challenges Stakeholders Importance Human rights Statistics Good governance Civil Registration and its importance

21. United Nations Workshop on the Improvement of Civil Registration and Vital Statistics in the SADC Region Blantyre, Malawi, 1 - 5 December 2007 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.. Civil Registration and its importance