The Pacific Civil Registrars – Disaster Preparation and Response Workshop was conducted in Suva, Fiji from 2-5 October. The workshop aimed to increase Pacific civil registrars’ understanding of the current status of CRVS systems in the region and the role they as civil registrars can play in disaster response. “In times of emergency, a birth certificate can help to find children separated from their families, and return these children safely home,” said Sheldon Yett, UNICEF Pacific Representative. CRVS systems are also crucial for replacing identity documents or accessing government services after being displaced following a disaster. 

At the meeting, registrars also discussed innovative ways to achieve universal registration of births and deaths and their commitments under the Regional Action Framework. All presentations from the workshop are available on www.pacific-crvs.org.

The workshop was made possible with the support of the Brisbane Accord Group and funding from UNICEF, New Zealand Foreign Affairs and Trade Programme, Secretariat of the Pacific Community, De La Rue, Object Consulting, Canadian Bank Note Company and Axiell.