Within the last five years, almost all Pacific Island countries and territories (PICTs) have undertaken an assessment of the civil registration and vital statistics (CRVS) system with support from the Brisbane Accord Group (BAG), under the framework of the Pacific Vital Statistics Action Plan (PVSAP). The assessments were conducted using the World Health Organization (WHO) CRVS Comprehensive Assessment Tool.
The findings of the assessment in most countries pointed to significant inadequacies in the existing legislative framework and policy framework for CRVS. A number of countries have hence designated legislation improvement as a core priority at the national level, while a few have already initiated arrangements to review the CRVS legislation. This document builds upon the work undertaken to date and aims at providing:
- an overview of the key legal issues and challenges facing the PICTs;
- guidance that countries can use to undertake an in-depth review of the CRVS legislative framework and policy framework in accordance with international standards and best practices; and
- guidance on evolving practices in civil registration, to help ensure countries have considered both current and future registration and vital statistics production needs.