The Government of Fiji in collaboration with the ESCAP, with the ambition of getting everyone in the picture, has completed the analysis and redesign of its CRVS processes. Moreover, CRVS-related data and evidence in Fiji has been analyzed to understand key issues of interest towards gender-sensitive policy recommendations (or Evidence to Action). Two policy areas of interest have been analyzed, firstly the magnitude of disparities in on-time birth registration among population groups in Fiji when financial incentives tied to on-time birth registration were not available; and secondly adolescent pregnancy and the intersectional identities of adolescent mothers. This has led to elucidating how policies and programmes in Fiji could best support population groups likely to be left behind in timely birth registration, specifically children of single, young, adolescent mothers from the iTaukei population, who typically have limited autonomy in decision making and access to resources and services.

The dissemination event held on 20 September in Suva was attended by the Minister of Justice, Hon. Siromi Turaga. Also in attendance were other representatives from the Ministry of Justice, the Ministry of Health & Medical Services, the Fiji Bureau of Statistics, the Ministry of iTaukei Affairs, the Ministry of Women, Children & Social Protection as well as other national agencies and development partners. The event disseminated:

1 The report of the Assessment, Analysis & Redesign of Civil Registration & Vital Statistics (CRVS) Processes in Fiji, conducted in line with the CRVS Systems Improvement Framework.

2 The Evidence-to-Action policy papers on (i) Target Groups for Addressing Disparities in On-Time Birth Registration (ii) An Intersectional Profile of Adolescent Pregnancy and Motherhood in Fiji

Preparations towards the Third Ministerial Conference on Civil Registration and Vital Statistics in Asia and the Pacific, to be held from 24 to 26 June 2025 at the United Nations Conference Centre (UNCC), Bangkok, Thailand, were also launched in the presence of the honorable Minister of Justice.

Through a panel discussion the Ministry of Justice, the Ministry of Health & Medical Services, the Fiji Bureau of Statistics and ESCAP highlighted achievements made in improving registration rates and coverage in Fiji during the current Asia-Pacific CRVS Decade, as well as future commitments and support.