The present publication was prepared by United Nations Statistics Division and Vital Strategies, with financial support from the Bloomberg Data for Health Initiative.
The purpose of the present Guidelines on the Legislative Framework for Civil Registration, Vital Statistics and Identity Management Systems is to offer a tool for developing a strong rights-based legal framework for civil registration, vital statistics and identity management systems. The establishment of such systems in the laws of a country serve a number of important purposes. It makes specific agencies responsible for civil registration, vital statistics and identity management functions. It specifies standards and quality control procedures for the collection and use of the records and information collected through the system and guarantees the privacy and security of those records. The legislative framework also offers a consistent and structured basis for performing all the tasks associated with the legal uses of the records of events and identification. In short, the legislative framework gives the system an essential foun - dation to be able to operate successfully throughout the country. This foundation, in turn, allows individuals to realize numerous human rights enshrined in international conventions that stem from civil registration and the provision of legal identity.